About the program

In Ontario, the government helps fund forest access roads on Crown land.

These forest access roads benefit not only the forest industry, but also many other users including:

  • mining companies
  • tourism operators
  • Aboriginal communities
  • utility and railway companies
  • hunters, anglers, campers, trappers and cottagers
  • the general public

These roads also provide part of the rural infrastructure for emergency preparedness and response.

Funding amount

The provincial government supports the construction and maintenance of forest access roads on Crown forests that serve multi-resource uses by covering:

  • up to 100% of primary road costs
  • up to 50% of branch road costs

Since 2005, Ontario has provided $1.25 billion to construct and maintain forest access roads.

Roads eligible for funding

Roads eligible for funding must be identified as primary or branch forest access roads:

  • in approved Forest Management Plans and Annual Work Schedules
  • located on Crown land
  • not limited to forest industry use

Primary roads

These roads provide principal access for the management unit and are constructed, maintained and used as part of the main road system on the management unit. Primary roads are normally permanent roads.

Branch roads

A road, other than a primary road, which branches off an existing or new primary or branch road, that provides access to, through or between areas of operations on a management unit.

Operational roads

Roads within an operational road boundary, other than a primary or branch road, provide short-term access for harvest, renewal and tending operations. Operational roads are normally not maintained after they are no longer required for forest management purposes and are often decommissioned and returned to productive land.