| Work Detail |
The Government of Canada announced a joint contribution of over $8.5 million for four projects that will promote green construction in Quebec, including the use of low-carbon Canadian wood to accelerate new building projects. The Government of Canada is investing more than $4.7 million, while the Government of Quebec is contributing $3.83 million. “Developing new markets for Canadian timber not only supports forestry workers and creates jobs but also helps us achieve other goals — including more housing and lower emissions. By promoting the use of Canadian wood in construction, the Government of Canada is strengthening communities and local economies in Quebec without cutting corners on the environment,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. The funding announced today includes: $1 million for Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée from Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program and $1.33 million from the Programme d’innovation en construction bois of Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. The project will: Develop a four-storey, 20-unit residential mass timber building using prefabrication and modular construction techniques. Demonstrate how we can deliver affordable housing using innovative wood-based products and technologies, including in remote communities and regions. “The Government of Quebec is proud to support Les Chantiers Chibougamau in the construction of a mass timber modular building as part of the Wood Construction Innovation Program. Since wood is a renewable and recyclable resource, its use in construction is an effective way to reduce GHG emissions, especially when it replaces materials with a higher carbon footprint. We are also supporting the development of an intelligent operations management system through the Wood Innovation Program. These investments will boost the forestry sector by enabling companies to be even more competitive in the market benefiting all of Quebec,” said Maïté Blanchette Vézina , Minister of Natural Resources and Forests of Quebec. An additional $2 million for Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée from NRCan’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and $2.5 million from the Programme Innovation Bois of Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. This project will: Modernize production processes of finger-jointed lumber, glue-laminated, I-joists and cross-laminated timber through the innovative use of artificial intelligence. Support a strong Canadian supply of value-added advanced wood construction products. “The fight against climate change and the critical contribution of wood materials to this chapter require new ways of doing things. The same is true of the economic context that drives the increased processing of softwood lumber. Going beyond the norm, both in construction systems and factories, results in financial pressure and risk taking for us. This is why the government’s support is essential in motivating us to invest now, and the outcomes are convincing,” said Frédéric Verreault, vice-president, Corporate Affairs, Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée $500,000 for Samcon Stanley Properties from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program. This project will: Develop the design for a 21-storey multi-unit residential building built from mass timber. Provide crucial data and insights into the feasibility of taller mass timber structures. $1.2 million for the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program. This project will: Build a two-storey low-rise community building with wood building technology. Ensure that the building’s shape and design preserve the historical culture of the Cree First Nation. “Designed based on historical elements by local Elders, the new commercial building located in the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi marks a significant move forward in the realization of the forest-to-form cycle in the Eeyou Itschee. The wood for the building was sourced from trees managed and harvested by Cree enterprises, then manufactured into advanced-engineered CLT and glue-laminated structural members. Constructed on budget and with marked construction efficiency by a local Cree construction company, the building is a true showpiece of the community. The intended purposes of the building are a grocery store on the main level, which will have a measured positive impact on the food quality and security within the community, and an upper floor with office space for local development corporation as well as other regional entities. We would like to expressly thank the NRCan GCWood team for their commitment to this project, and for allowing us the opportunity to demonstrate the cost, time and ecological value of building with wood,” said Tony Gull , CEO, Mishtuk Corporation. |
