Canada and Quebec have announced a joint investment exceeding $8.5 million to support four sustainable wood construction projects in Quebec. The federal government is contributing more than $4.7 million, while the provincial government is providing $3.83 million, officials said Thursday.
Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée will receive $1 million from Natural Resources Canada's Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program and $1.33 million from Quebec’s Programme d’innovation en construction bois. The funding will support a four-story, 20-unit residential mass timber building designed with prefabrication and modular techniques to enhance affordability.
The company will also receive $2 million from NRCan’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and $2.5 million from Quebec’s Programme Innovation Bois. The funds will modernize production processes for finger-jointed lumber, glue-laminated beams, I-joists, and cross-laminated timber using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency.
Samcon Stanley Properties will receive $500,000 from the GCWood program to design a 21-story residential mass timber building. The project is expected to provide new data on the feasibility of taller timber structures.
The Cree First Nation of Waswanipi will receive $1.2 million from the GCWood program to construct a two-story low-rise community building designed with input from local Elders to reflect traditional Cree design. The structure will incorporate locally sourced wood processed into advanced timber products.
The investments aim to expand the use of Canadian wood in construction, promote energy efficiency, and reduce emissions while strengthening Quebec’s forestry sector, officials said.
