The federal government is investing more than $4.4 million in projects aimed at strengthening the forest sector across the Prairie provinces.
Corey Hogan, parliamentary secretary to the minister of energy and natural resources, announced the funding Friday, saying it will support 10 projects in Alberta and Manitoba focused on manufacturing, market diversification and Indigenous participation in forestry.
Officials say the funding is intended to help the sector respond to challenges such as U.S. trade measures while modernizing operations and expanding export opportunities.
“Canada’s forests are more than a resource,” Hogan said in a statement. “They are the foundation for good jobs, affordable housing and sustainable economic growth.”
Mass timber facility among projects receiving support
The largest portion of the funding will go to Western Archrib Enterprises Ltd., which will receive $2.3 million through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program.
The funding will help the company commission a 160,000-square-foot mass timber manufacturing facility in Sturgeon County, Alta.
The project represents a total capital investment of more than $80 million and will transition the company’s operations from manual processing to a fully automated production line.
Once completed, the facility is expected to increase annual production capacity from about 12 million board feet to between 30 million and 35 million board feet.
Officials say mass timber products are increasingly used in construction and could help support housing development and infrastructure projects.
Programs aimed at innovation and market expansion
Natural Resources Canada also announced it is accepting new applications under several federal forest sector programs.
These include the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program, the Green Construction through Wood program, the Indigenous Forestry Initiative and the Global Forest Leadership Program.
The initiatives are supported through a broader $500 million federal commitment aimed at modernizing Canada’s forestry industry, expanding the use of Canadian wood in construction and opening new domestic and international markets.
Federal officials say the forestry sector remains a significant contributor to Canada’s economy, employing nearly 200,000 workers and contributing more than $20 billion annually to the country’s gross domestic product.
Across the Prairie provinces, the sector supports almost 28,000 jobs and contributes more than $3.9 billion to the regional economy.