September 08, 2010
Calgary, Alberta
Alberta’s value-added manufacturing wood products sector will benefit from FPInnovations’ technical knowledge to increase productivity and sales revenues while reducing operational expenses. A federal-provincial investment will enable FPInnovations to assist Alberta wood-product firms to advance industry development and forest operations.
“Our Government’s investment in this initiative will help enable wood manufacturers throughout Alberta to continue to grow and create jobs by adopting new practices and applications,” said Lee Richardson, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.
”The value-added wood products sector is a vital part of Alberta’s economy and a key to future growth and prosperity in our province,” said Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Minister Mel Knight. “Encouraging innovation and knowledge transfer in this sector is part of our commitment to ensuring that Alberta is competitive and continues to attract investment to support jobs in our forest economy.”
Over the next two years, FPInnovations will share its technical knowledge and manufacturing best practices with Alberta firms involved in the value-added wood manufacturing of products such as pre-fabricated buildings, engineered building components, cabinets, millwork, and furniture. Specific activities will include site visits, seminars and workshops, a technical help-line, technical bulletins, and demonstration projects. The primary goal of this project is to improve the sector’s business productivity and competitiveness in the national and international marketplace.
A combined federal-provincial investment of $1,264,000 is being provided under the Canada-Alberta Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA) for this project. The Government of Canada has committed $639,000 and the Province of Alberta, an additional $625,000. FPInnovations will contribute a further $351,000.
“The Alberta forestry and wood products sector is a vital part of the provincial economy,” said Roland Baumeister, FPInnovations’ manager of value added manufacturing for Western Canada. “Through this initiative, the resources of FPInnovations will support the province’s strategy in identifying market opportunities, diversifying its economy and increasing the value of its forest resource.”
A similar project is also being delivered by FPInnovations to help improve Saskatchewan wood manufacturers’ productivity. This project is supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan, through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA). FPInnovations will contribute $138,000 to the Saskatchewan project, while the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan will invest a shared commitment of $848,000 to ensure Saskatchewan wood manufacturers succeed in today’s global market.
FPInnovations is a national forest sector research and development institute that specializes in supplying sector specific industry research and knowledge transfer to the solid wood products, pulp and paper, forest operations and transportation sectors.
The investments by the Governments of Canada and Alberta are made through the Canada-Alberta Western Economic Partnership Agreement. Through this agreement, Canada and Alberta are jointly contributing $50 million, over four years, to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in Alberta communities.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Phone: (780) 495-6892
Duncan MacDonnell
Public Affairs Officer
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
780-427-4805
Roland Baumeister
Manager, Secondary Manufacturing Department
FPInnovations
Tel: (604) 222-5672
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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