Boyle, Alberta — Thanks to an investment by the federal Government, Canada’s forestry sector will now have access to funding that will improve its environmental performance, create jobs and stimulate the industry. Today, MP Brian Jean, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that 24 pulp and paper companies across Canada have qualified for funding under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, including $62,869,884 for Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc.
 
“I am pleased that the Government of Canada is taking exceptional steps to support our forestry industry by investing $1 billion in a program that will build a stronger and more sustainable future for Canada’s forest communities, including ours in Northern Alberta” said MP Jean. “The Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program will allow innovative companies such as Alberta Pacific to make new investments in pulp and paper facilities, making them greener and more sustainable.”

The Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program allows Canadian pulp and paper companies that produced black liquor — a liquid by-product of the chemical pulping process that is used to generate renewable energy — in 2009 to access this $1-billion fund.

Qualified companies will be able to use the program to help finance green projects at any pulp and paper facility they own. As a result, many mills across Canada that did not generate credits through black liquor production will still benefit from this program.  

Qualified companies are now required to submit specific project proposals for their facilities. Companies can expect to receive funding for their capital projects in late 2009 or early in 2010. Companies have until 2012 to apply the credits to environmental improvement projects.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan has delivered significant investments to sustain and improve the forest industry in Canada.  The Government of Canada has committed a further $170 million to assist the forest industry in developing innovative products and expanding markets overseas. $40 million has also been invested to develop pilot-scale demonstrations developed under the Transformative Technologies Program. Furthermore, the $1-billion Community Adjustment Fund is creating jobs and maintaining employment in communities affected by the global economic downturn, specifically forest-dependent communities.