The Media Room
2011/06 (a)
Backgrounder
Protecting Jobs in Canada’s Forest Sector
The Harper Government is making investments in Canada’s forest sector that are improving the environmental performance of mills and helping to position the industry at the forefront of the clean energy economy.
The Government is working with industry, provincial governments and other key stakeholders to help transform our forest industry and to help it take advantage of the growing bioeconomy, where innovation and environmental performance are key.
Today, as part of a $278-million investment in mills across the country, the Harper Government is investing $41.5 million in Cariboo’s pulp mill in Quesnel, British Columbia, through the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program.
To improve its overall operational efficiency, the mill will upgrade its power boiler and hog fuel handling system, install a steam turbine and cooling tower and undertake four steam reduction projects in the mill process. By making these adjustments, the mill will decrease its environmental footprint while increasing its electricity generation capacity by 18.1 megawatts — enough green electricity to power the equivalent of almost 13,000 homes. The project will allow the mill to meet all of its energy needs and export surplus renewable electrical energy to the grid.
Promoting Forest Innovation and Investment
The key to a strong future for the forest sector is to promote innovation and entrepreneurial activity within a competitive business environment. The Harper Government is working to help Canada’s forest sector take advantage of new market opportunities by researching innovative products that meet the needs of the marketplace.
As outlined in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Harper Government has delivered $170 million over two years to improve the forest sector’s long-term competitiveness through renewed investments in market diversification and forest innovation. This funding includes $120 million to help promote forest innovation and investment and $50 million to expand market opportunities for Canadian forest products.
Other key Harper Government initiatives in support of forest sector sustainability and renewal include the $1-billion Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program. Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth committed an additional $100 million over four years to support the development and commercialization of advanced technologies in the forest sector.
In addition to its ongoing support of Canada’s forest industry, the Harper Government established the $1-billion Community Adjustment Fund and the $1-billion Community Development Trust to help reduce the short-term impacts of economic restructuring in single-industry communities facing challenges as a result of the global economic downturn.
For more details about the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, visit http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/pulp-paper-green-transformation.
For additional details on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/home-accueil-eng.html.
Richard Walker
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.