BC Government Announces $6.49 Million in Additional Funding to Support Wood-Product Manufacturing

The British Columbia provincial government announced on Thursday (11-30-23) that it is contributing as much as $6.49 million (CAD) through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF) to fund three capital projects and three planning projects.

The projects will see wood-product manufacturers grow and diversify their operations by upgrading equipment to support innovation and long-term sustainability, adding new product lines, and establishing new jobs while preserving existing positions.

The capital projects are as follows:

• S&R Sawmills Ltd., founded in 1963 and operating several mills in Langley and Surrey, will receive as much as $4 million to support an expansion of operations by installing a trimmer/sorter/stacker line at their Langley-based D Mill.
• Canoe Forest Products Ltd., operating for more than 60 years in Canoe, is receiving as much as $2.25 million to replace its outdated kiln, an upgrade that will improve their long-term viability as a softwood sheathing, veneer, and specialty-plywood manufacturer.
• Paradigm Building Solutions Ltd., a prefabricated manufacturer of energy-efficient wall panels located in Louis Creek, will receive as much as $106,000 for the purchase of an automated saw, resulting in increased output and reduction of waste.

The planning projects are as follows:

• BCollective Homes Inc. (Vancouver), which designs, manufactures, and constructs energy-efficient, passive homes, will receive as much as $50,000 to complete planning to move off-site prefabrication of panels in-house.
• Kruger Kamloops L.P. (Kamloops) will receive as much as $50,000 to complete an engineering report and drawings required to install a pressure diffusion washer.
• Thompson River Veneer Products Ltd. (Kamloops), a processor of low-grade veneer into higher-value products, will receive as much as $30,000 to complete a technical assessment for replacing press platens to increase production capacity and reduce costs.

According to the press release, funding through the BCMJF is part of a series of programs that the Province has introduced to support the growth of value-added manufacturing in BC. In January, the Ministry of Forests introduced a new Value-Added Manufacturing Program to establish a dedicated fiber supply for small and medium-sized manufacturers. The Province is working with the value-added manufacturing sector to increase the flow of fiber and find ways to expand local production of high-value wood products. A strong value-added manufacturing industry diversifies the forestry sector, buffering against global market challenges.