BURSTCanada’s minister of housing and infrastructure Gregor Robertson was in Castlegar on Monday, March 2, to announce more than $13 million in investments for ten Regional Tariff Response Initiative projects across B.C.’s Southern Interior.
The tariff response initiative is a $1 billion national program aimed at helping businesses adapt to tariffs and new economic and trade realities by boosting production, strengthening supply chains and accessing new markets.
“Tariffs are having a real impact on communities across B.C. That is why we are stepping up with these investments,” said Robertson. “The work we are doing is giving forestry and manufacturing businesses the tools they need to adapt – strengthening supply chains and protecting jobs, especially in sectors that are critical for our province.”
Robertson made the announcement at Kalesnikoff Lumber following a tour of their new mass timber production facility.
Kalesnikoff is receiving $5.5 million of the announced funding in the form of a “repayable investment” or interest-free loan.
Robertson said the federal government is focused on encouraging modern construction methods that can produce housing that is affordable, Canadian and fast.
That is something that Kalesnikoff can help achieve.
Kalesnikoff is a major employer in the West Kootenay and a multi-generational company. It is one of only two companies in Canada that are fully integrated from woodlands and sawmilling to mass timber design and modular manufacturing.
The company will use the money to purchase new equipment to increase the manufacturing capacity of prefabricated components that can be used to build everything from multi-family housing to schools and commercial buildings.
All of the funding provided to for-profit businesses in this announcement will be in the form of interest-free loans.
Kelowna-based metal manufacturer Command Industries will receive $730,000 to purchase advanced laser cutting and machining equipment to be used in building their custom steel products used in mass timber production and wastewater remediation.
Westbank First Nation-owned Heartland Economics will receive $644,000 to purchase equipment to move into the production of custom-cut wood products.
Armstrong-based Rapid-Span manufactures prefabricated bridge and transportation components. They will receive $828,000 to purchase advanced equipment including robotics to bring more work in-house to reduce costs and increase production speed.
Also in Armstrong, Simolo Customs will receive $1.56 million to modernize and automate its low-speed electric vehicle production facility and bring battery-production in-house to reduce costs and increase production.
Kelowna-based SKYTRAC will receive $762,000 to bring advanced manufacturing technologies to its satellite communication and avionics production facilities.
In Kamloops, Axis Forestry builds specialized, steel-based large timber harvesters for logging operations. They will receive $590,000 to make adaptations to their harvesters.
Porcupine Wood Products, based in Salmo, will receive $583,000 to purchase new equipment that will speed production, improve product consistency and increase the value gained from each log.
Two non-profit organizations will be receiving funding in the form of grants:
Castlegar-based Independent Lumber Manufacturers Association will receive $862,000 to deliver an AI and digital modernization program for its member mills. The project will help mills use data and digital tools to increase productivity and improve supply chain visibility.
The Forest Product Association of Canada will receive $974,000 to develop a digital intelligence platform that will reduce transportation delays and improve supply chain reliability.