OTTAWA – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) has welcomed a significant $8.5 million investment from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, aimed at advancing wood construction projects across the province.
The Government of Canada is contributing $4.7 million, while Quebec’s government is investing $3.83 million.
Funding Allocation for Key Projects
The investment will be distributed among four major projects focused on mass timber construction and innovation:
- Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée:
- $1 million from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood program and $1.33 million from Quebec’s Programme d’innovation en construction bois.
- Supports the development of a four-storey, 20-unit residential mass timber building using prefabrication and modular construction techniques.
- Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée (second project):
- $2 million from NRCan’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program and $2.5 million from Quebec’s Programme Innovation Bois.
- Aims to modernize engineered wood production, including finger-jointed lumber, glue-laminated timber, I-joists, and cross-laminated timber, integrating artificial intelligence for efficiency.
- Samcon Stanley Properties:
- $500,000 from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood program.
- Supports the design of a 21-storey mass timber multi-unit residential building.
- Cree First Nation of Waswanipi:
- $1.2 million from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood program.
- Will fund the construction of a two-storey community building, incorporating wood technology while preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the Cree First Nation.
Advancing Sustainable Wood Construction
According to the Canadian Wood Council, this funding underscores the crucial role of wood in sustainable, low-carbon construction.
“By supporting advanced wood construction methods—including modular mass timber housing, artificial intelligence for engineered wood manufacturing, and tall wood residential buildings—this investment reinforces the essential role of wood in delivering high-performance, eco-friendly building solutions,” the CWC stated.