Released on July 29, 2014
Today, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Michelle Rempel, and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Environment for Forest Management Fred Bradshaw, on behalf of Minister of the Economy Bill Boyd, announced a combined investment of $1.1 million in the Prince Albert Model Forest Association (PAMF).With the assistance of its delivery partner, FPInnovations, PAMF will provide guidance to Northern Saskatchewan forestry companies, particularly First Nations- and Métis-owned companies, to improve management and business practices, revise their product lines and increase marketing activities to be ready to enter new international export markets.
Northern Saskatchewan’s forestry companies will also receive customized technical support to produce higher-value products that will result in increased domestic and international sales. FPInnovations will also provide support to companies to professionally market their products at international tradeshows.
This investment will help build capacity and productivity in the Northern Saskatchewan forestry sector to help companies take advantage of strong export markets.
“Our Government is committed to expanding export markets for Saskatchewan and Canadian forestry products,” Rempel said. “This project will help achieve that goal, while strengthening the competitiveness of Saskatchewan businesses, as well as creating long-term employment and economic development opportunities for First Nations and Métis peoples.”
“Forestry is a key contributor to this province’s economy and to First Nations and Métis employment and entrepreneurship,” Bradshaw said. “With seven mills now online in Saskatchewan, the time is right for the industry to start diversifying to meet global demand for new forestry products. This investment will help our northern businesses tap into emerging markets, create jobs and promote sustainable economic growth.”
“The Prince Albert Model Forest is all about helping communities build sustainability through programs such as this and as a non-profit partnership association we absolutely depend on external funding to achieve that,” President of the Prince Albert Model Forest Association Mark Johnston said. “We are pleased that Western Economic Diversification Canada has provided this opportunity for us to work together with FPInnovations and other partners to support this initiative.”
Quick Facts
- 23 per cent of Saskatchewan’s land mass is covered by commercial forest.
- Saskatchewan’s forest sector generates more than $1 billion in sales annually and creates approximately 5,000 direct jobs, in normal market conditions.
- Forestry is Northern Saskatchewan’s second largest economic driver. First Nations and Métis people comprise over 15 per cent of the workforce – the largest percentage of Aboriginal forestry employees in Canada.
- Federal and Provincial Governments partner to increase Saskatchewan’s wood products manufacturing productivity: www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_12244.asp.
- Value-added Wood Products to Find New Market Opportunities: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=839199.
- Federal and Provincial Governments increase investment in successful northern fire prevention services: www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/77_12300.asp.
- Prince Albert Model Forest Association: www.pamodelforest.sk.ca/home.html.
- FPInnovations: https://fpinnovations.ca/Pages/home.aspx.
For more information, contact:
Emily Goucher
Office of the Minister, Western Economic Diversification
Phone: 613-954-8097
Email: emily.goucher@wd-deo.gc.ca
Deb Young
Ministry of the Economy
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6315
Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca
Mark Johnston
Prince Albert Model Forest Association
Phone: 306-953-8921
Email: johnston@src.sk.ca