Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The Government of Canada will provide $8.5 million to four green construction projects in Quebec, focusing on the use of low-carbon Canadian wood to accelerate building initiatives. The funding includes:
$1 million for Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée from Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program, and $1.33 million from Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests to develop a four-storey, 20-unit residential building using mass timber and modular construction techniques. This project will showcase how wood-based products can be used to deliver affordable housing, even in remote areas.
“The Government of Quebec is proud to support Les Chantiers Chibougamau in constructing a mass timber modular building,” said Quebec Natural Resources and Forests Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina. “Wood is a renewable resource, and its use in construction significantly reduces GHG emissions. These investments will also help keep the forestry sector competitive and benefit all of Quebec.”
$2 million for Les Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée from NRCan’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, and $2.5 million from Quebec’s Programme Innovation Bois to modernize production processes for finger-jointed lumber, glue-laminated timber, I-joists, and cross-laminated timber using artificial intelligence.
“The fight against climate change requires new approaches to processing softwood lumber. Government support is essential to drive investment and achieve the results we need,” said Frédéric Verreault, vice-president of Corporate Affairs, Les Chantiers Chibougamau.
$500,000 for Samcon Stanley Properties from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program to create plans for a 21-storey, multi-unit residential building made from mass timber and gather critical data on the feasibility of taller mass timber structures.
$1.2 million for the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi from NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program to build a two-storey community building using wood-based construction technology, incorporating design elements that preserve the cultural heritage of the Cree First Nation.
“Designed by local Elders, the new building in Waswanipi is a significant step forward in the forest-to-form cycle of the Eeyou Itschee,” said Tony Gull, CEO of Mishtuk Corporation. “The project demonstrates the value of building with wood, including its cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental benefits.”
These investments reflect a continued commitment to green construction and demonstrate the potential of using wood-based materials in projects across Quebec, supporting both sustainability and economic growth.
