TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUEBEC — The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced an investment of $15 million for a demonstration project at the Kruger Mill in Trois-Rivières. The total value of the project is $43 million.
Minister Lebel made the announcement alongside representatives from the Quebec Government, FPInnovations and Kruger Biomaterials Inc.
“The investment we are announcing today seeks to ensure a more sustainable future for forestry companies in Quebec,” said Minister Lebel. “We are committed to helping the sector transition to higher-value activities and develop new markets.”
“Our government recognizes that our forest sector is an important job-creating economic driver,” said Minister Oliver. “We will continue to support this sector’s transformation so that it retains its leading position in the communities it supports.”
The demonstration plant will produce cellulose filaments (CF), a revolutionary, chemical-free, renewable and recyclable material that can dramatically improve the quality of pulp, paper, bioplastics, adhesives, paints and coatings. A Canadian innovation, the commercialization of CF gives Canada an international competitive advantage. It is estimated that the use of CF represents a potential market of approximately $500 million in revenue per year for the forest industry.
On November 22, Minister Denis Lebel had announced an investment of over $61 million in Quebec’s forestry industry, including $35 million to fund three new projects as part of the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program. Today’s announcement marks the first of these projects.
The Government of Canada has invested $1.8 billion in Canada’s forest sector, $693.7 million of which was earmarked for Quebec. The Government will continue to support the transformation of Canada’s forestry industry, to facilitate the creation of opportunities abroad and to encourage innovation.
For more information about federal support for Canada’s forest sector, please visit: www.canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca.
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
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David Provencher
Press Secretary
Office of Canada's Minister of
Natural Resources
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