$100 MILLION PROGRAM
The Canadian government laid out the framework for a new program this week that is aimed at expanding opportunities for Canada’s forestry sector through the development of innovative projects and technologies.
Called the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, the government’s goal is to encourage the development of a wider range of innovative technologies, which would help secure a more prosperous future for Canada’s forestry industry and the communities who depend on it. This would include bioenergy and biofuels.
Stockwell Day, president of the Treasury Board, minister for the Pacific Gateway and Minister responsible for British Columbia announced the $100 million program on Monday at the Vancouver office and lab of FPInnovations. “This government continues to invest in the transformation of Canada’s forest industry,” said Day. “This program will encourage and support the next generation of forest products, and I am confident that this will have a very positive impact in communities across Canada, including here in British Columbia.”
Avrim Lazar, the president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) came out in full support of the new initiative. “Today’s announcement makes it clear that the Canadian government understands that jobs in the forest industry can only be secured through transformation and that they are ready to play their part,” said Lazar following the government announcement “The Canadian forest products industry has radically altered its business strategy to emerge from the economic downturn as an engine of growth. Our focus has been on finding solutions and meeting market demand for superior environmentally-sustainable products that maximize product value, and minimize environmental impacts, while securing jobs in rural communities across Canada.”
An FPAC news release noted that IFIT program is expected to facilitate the transformation of the forest products industry into “a world bio-energy leader.”
For more on this, see our editorial in the July/August issue of Canadian Forest Industries, coming to your mailbox or computer screen soon.
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