VANCOUVER, BC, Mar 13, 2025 (CNW Group via COMTEX) --
 Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over $1.5 million in federal support for three projects focusing on the advancement of prefabricated wood construction in the province of British Columbia. These investments are aimed at promoting construction using Canadian wood and driving sustainable innovation in the forestry and construction sectors.
The following projects are receiving support through Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program:
These investments will help drive down construction costs, speed up building timelines and increase the availability of affordable and sustainable housing. By advancing the use of state-of-the-art Canadian wood products, the federal government is helping to build a better future, creating jobs and supporting the construction industry's transition toward the innovative green building practices that drive the demand for Canadian forestry products and forestry expertise.
Quotes
"Developing new markets for Canadian timber not only supports forestry workers and creates jobs but also helps us achieve other goals, including more housing and lower emissions. By promoting the use of low-carbon Canadian wood in construction, the Government of Canada is strengthening communities and local economies in British Columbia â?? without cutting corners on the environment."
The Honourable Jonathan WilkinsonMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
"As the largest trades training provider in Western Canada, BCIT is at the forefront of partnering with industry and government to deliver sustainable solutions that build a greener future. The investment from Natural Resources Canada toward the development of the BCIT Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion exemplifies Canada's leadership in sustainable construction practices while providing a living lab that enhances training and research opportunities for the next generation of skilled tradespeople."Â
Dr. Jeff ZabudskyPresident, British Columbia Institute of Technology
"The success of the Prefab Buildings Initiative is a testament to Canadian innovation and collaboration, made possible through the support of NRCan's GCWood program and the dedication of our nation's suppliers and manufacturers. Together, we are building a made-in-Canada solution that accelerates housing delivery, enhances sustainability and strengthens our domestic construction industry."
Andrew BowerbankExecutive Director, Prefab Buildings Initiative
"The launch of our interactive dashboard marks a significant step in understanding and advancing Canada's construction prefabrication sector. With comprehensive data on over 800 companies, our Prefab Construction Navigator provides industry leaders and policymakers with the insights needed to accelerate adoption, improve productivity and drive innovation. Prefabrication is key to meeting Canada's urgent housing and infrastructure demands, and this research offers a roadmap for scaling its impact."
Mark DevereuxManaging Director, Scius
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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
SOURCE: Natural Resources Canada
SOURCE: Government of Canada
Contacts: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6096,
media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca; Joanna Sivasankaran, Director of Communications, Office of
the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada,
joanna.sivasankaran@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca; Jocelyne Leszczynski, Media relation, British
Columbia Institute of Technology, 604-250-9251, jleszczynski2@bcit.ca; Andrew
Bowerbank, Executive Director, Prefab Buildings Initiative, 416-568-3533,
andrew@innovatepbi.com; Mark Devereux, Managing Director, Scius, cmdevereux@scius.ca
COMTEX_463578533/2197/2025-03-13T15:00:00
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