Prince George, B.C. – Federal Minister of Natural Resources, Joe Oliver has addressed the COFI convention, delivering more details on the Federal Budget’s dedicated dollars to support innovation and market diversification .

Specifically, he announced $19.5 million dollars for five projects in western Canada, of which, two are in B.C, and none in Northern B.C.   Rather, the announced projects   will see:

$1.4 million to B.C. Passive House in Pemberton

$2 million to Structurelam in Okanagan Falls

$4.9 million to Tolko’s plant in Meadowlake Saskatchewan

$6.75 million to Millar Western Forest Products in Whitecourt Alberta   and

$4.5 million to Tekle Technical Services in Drayton Valley Alberta

All of the projects are to bring advanced technologies “out of laboratories and into industrial facilities”.

“Innovation is critical, throughout the economy. In respect to the forest industry it is crucial, that is why we are putting some $19 and a half million western transformation projects where we’re taking innovative design and we’re   through pilot projects we want to see it move forward to the next step.”

He pointed to cross laminated timber as one example of new technologies, which will have the potential to boost exports to China for multi storey wood buildings. Oliver admits there is still work to be done here in Canada when it comes to multi storey wood buildings “We are looking, by 2015,   to getting the building code changed so you can increase the number of storeys that can be built with wood framed construction. There’s an understanding we can go up to 10 storeys or more, that’s been done, I mean afterall, if we’re talking to foreign countries about  it’s only fair and reasonable and basic marketing that we’re willing to do it also.”

Oliver also announced there would by $7.6 million spent to expand export opportunities overseas, and $3.3 million to promote the use of wood in North American markets.