Clean technologies play a large and growing role in Canada's forest sector. By increasing the efficiency of forest sector technologies, we can grow Canada's economy at a critical time - without growing emissions from the manufacturing sector. Developing and deploying new clean technologies and solutions helps to assert Canadian economic autonomy, while fighting climate change and creating good new jobs.

Today, the Honourable Kody Blois, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development, announced federal funding for MTC Mass Timber Company (MTC) to support its move to technology-driven manufacturing that will create high-value mass timber products in Nova Scotia.

Through an investment of $500,000, MTC will advance the detailed design of Canada's first large-scale, clear-span mass timber manufacturing structure that would house a new industrial plant. Once constructed, MTC will be Canada's first vertically integrated mass timber manufacturer in Atlantic Canada, allowing further growth of the region's offsite building construction sector and improving access to housing for Nova Scotians.

MTC was also conditionally approved for $10 million in federal support, subject to the required due diligence measures, and the negotiation of a final agreement by both parties, to:
　

• Work with local forest sector partners and First Nations to integrate their operations into a high-specification manufacturing business.
• Use technology-driven manufacturing to open a facility that can use eastern spruce - currently undervalued in the lumber industry - to create high-value products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and glue-laminated beams and columns.
• Diversify their product lines by maximizing the value of wood fibre products, which will contribute to the local economy by increasing income per unit and growing operations.

Ultimately, this project would add value to the lumber products produced by the company in Nova Scotia, using next-generation technology to strengthen the forest sector in the province. The project would also create 124 new local jobs while opening new economic avenues for the use of locally grown eastern spruce lumber in manufacturing.

The Government of Canada will always stand up for Canadians and Canadian industry, and that very much includes the forest sector. The project announced today will support leadership, innovation and sustainable practices in the forest sector while creating significant economic and environmental benefits for Nova Scotians and Canadians.

 
Source: canada.ca