Accelerating Growth and Diversifying Northern Ontario’s Forestry Sector
News Release
Government of Canada connects research with business to create middle-class jobs and new opportunities
February 16, 2018 – Mattawa, ON – Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario - FedNor
To encourage innovation and support sustainable growth across Northern Ontario’s forestry sector, the Government of Canada is investing $780,000 to enable FPInnovations to implement its Ontario Forest Sector Road Map (OFSRM) initiative. This new three-year program will connect businesses with research programs and help businesses innovate and adopt new technologies to maximize economic opportunities in Northern Ontario.
The funding was announced today by Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedNor.
Specifically, the OFSRM will help connect small and medium-sized businesses with FPInnovations’ Northern Ontario Industry Advisor Network, a group of forestry experts with offices in Mattawa, Timmins, Walford, Kenora and Thunder Bay. The project will assist companies to increase efficiencies, implement clean energy solutions, and manufacture advanced building systems to meet the increased demand created by Ontario’s new building codes.
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is proud to help connect researchers with businesses to create new opportunities leading to the creation of high-quality, middle-class jobs for the people of Northern Ontario. This announcement highlights our commitment to building strategic alliances with organizations and businesses to further position Canada as a global leader on climate change and the clean economy.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedNor
“Today’s announcement will help accelerate growth and support the long-term sustainability of Northern Ontario’s forestry sector. By investing in innovation and clean-tech, our government is helping to reduce Canada’s environmental footprint and achieving meaningful results for the people, businesses and communities here at home in Nipissing-Timiskaming and across the region.”
- Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming
“FPInnovations is grateful to FedNor for this financial contribution which, along with funds from the OMNRF, will help our industry advisors to promote innovation and carry out technology transfer that fosters economic development of forestry operations, and primary and secondary wood manufacturing in Northern Ontario. This initiative complements other great initiatives to promote the forest sector, contributing to the development of a bio-economy in Northern Ontario.”
- Stéphane Renou, President and CEO, FPInnovations
Quick Facts
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FedNor’s investment is provided through its Northern Ontario Development Program which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation throughout the region.
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FPInnovations, a not-for-profit world leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness, recently announced the TMP-Bio pilot project, also funded by FedNor, aimed at efficiently producing and commercializing innovative bio-chemicals derived from wood.
Associated Links
Contacts
Barclay Babcock
Communications Officer
FedNor
705-690-0957
barclay.babcock@canada.ca