Canadian government awards C$4.5M to Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries in Boyle, Alberta, to diversify its product offerings by extracting, purifying biomethanol from its pulping process

Rachel Carter

BOYLE, Alberta , October 13, 2011 (press release) – Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray–Athabasca, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced investments totalling $4.5 million in Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. to benefit the regional economy and advance transformation in Alberta’s forest industry.

“Our Government's top priority remains the economy,” said MP Jean. “We continue to invest in communities and initiatives that will make Canadian forest products even more attractive in the global marketplace. With the economic recovery still fragile, we will continue to take action to protect and create important forest sector jobs across Canada.”

These investments are improving the environmental performance and economic competitiveness of Canada’s forest sector through innovation and new product development. This will expand market opportunities for traditional and novel Canadian wood and pulp and paper products, while helping to sustain over 500 jobs in Alberta.

“By investing in our forest companies, we are helping to protect local jobs,” added MP Jean. “New technologies are helping mills create innovative products and reduce their environmental footprint. These are important steps to ensuring the long-term viability of the forest industry.”

Continued support for broader forest sector transformation was provided in The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which provides $60 million over one year to renew programs that focus on forest sector innovation and market development including a $25.5-million investment that was recently announced for the Transformative Technologies Research Program.

For more information, please visit canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca.

Industry Intelligence Editor's Note: According to a backgrounder linked to this release, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. in Boyle, Alberta, is receiving $4.5 million to diversify its product offerings by extracting and purifying biomethanol from its pulping process. The extraction process being implemented will be the first project of its kind in the world.

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