Announcement coincides with celebrations marking centennial of city
22 May 2010
Dryden, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Domtar Dryden Mill will receive funding under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (PPGTP) for two capital improvement projects that will increase the mill’s operational efficiencies and its production of green, clean electricity.
The Prime Minister made the announcement in Dryden where he was participating in celebrations marking the centennial of the city. He was accompanied by Greg Rickford, the Member of Parliament for Kenora.
“The pulp and paper industry has been an important part of Dryden since it became a town back in 1910,” said Prime Minister Harper. “We are proud to mark the centennial of the city by helping ensure the Dryden Mill remains efficient, competitive, environmentally friendly and open for business well into the future.”
“As the largest recipients of funding under the program we thank the Government of Canada for investing in our industry. We are excited to move forward with important upgrades to our eligible Canadian operations with both environmental and economic benefits for the communities in which we operate, as is the case in Dryden here today,” said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Domtar Corporation.
The capital investments being supported today will increase the mill’s annual production of electricity by more than 128,000 mega-watt hours, nearly balancing the mill’s production and consumption of electricity. This will result in the offset of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
Domtar is one of 24 pulp and paper companies across Canada that qualified for credits under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program. The program was created to support environmental improvements in the pulp and paper industry.
Today’s announcement complements initiatives that are being delivered under Canada’s Economic Action Plan to sustain and improve the forest industry in Canada. Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth is delivering support over four years to the development, commercialization and implementation of advanced technologies in the forest sector. This investment is helping create a world-class industry able to compete in the clean energy economy of tomorrow.
In addition, the Government of Canada has committed funds to the development of next-generation forest products and the expansion of global markets for Canadian forest products.
Articles - Backgrounder: Domtar Dryden Mill
