March 6, 2026 Sturgeon County, Alberta Natural Resources Canada
The forest sector is part of Canada's DNA: it supports hundreds of communities, sustains good jobs and drives economic growth. Today, the sector is facing significant pressures, including the impacts of unjust U.S. trade measures. The Government of Canada is taking action to protect what we have built and the workers who rely on it while transforming the sector so it can emerge stronger and more competitive for decades to come.
Today, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a federal investment of over $4.4 million for ten projects that will strengthen the forest sector in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. These projects will advance manufacturing and processing, diversify Canada's forest products and their export markets and support First Nation and Métis groups and forestry businesses.
Among the projects funded, Western Archrib Enterprises Ltd. is receiving $2.3 million through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program to commission a 160,000-square-foot mass timber plant in Sturgeon County, Alberta. The facility represents a total capital investment of over $80 million and will transform Western Archrib's operations from manual processing to a fully automated manufacturing line, increasing production capacity from 12 million to 30-35 million board feet annually. This investment will strengthen Alberta's supply chain for advanced wood-based building material, such as mass timber panels, which directly support the construction industry and housing supply.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is now accepting applications under national Calls for Proposals for its renewed forest sector transformation programs, including IFIT, the Green Construction through Wood program, the Indigenous Forestry Initiative and the Global Forest Leadership Program. Supported by a $500-million commitment, these programs will help Canadian companies innovate and diversify to drive domestic demand, expand the use of Canadian wood in construction, support Indigenous participation and open new domestic and international markets. These programs are central to Canada's broader strategy to be our own best customer through the Buy Canadian Policy and Build Canada Homes, which prioritize Canadian wood and technologies in infrastructure and housing.
By defending forest sector workers today, modernizing the industry for tomorrow and helping companies reach new markets for the long term, the Government of Canada is ensuring that the forest sector remains a pillar of national strength and prosperity for decades to come.
