Groups receive federal funds to help smooth path to net zero carbon emissions

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This article was published 16/11/2023 (1046 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has long been a dream that clean, cheap hydroelectricity will be Manitoba’s “golden opportunity” driving economic growth and prosperity in the province.

It’s hard to point to many examples of that to date, but there are some in the province that believe that it’s going to come.

Jack Winram, executive director of the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association (MEIA), is one of those.

Next week the MEIA will be hosting the largest cleantech conference in the Prairies with trade show booths sold out and 600 attendees expected.

The MEIA was one of four organizations and one company that received a total of $4.6 million from PrairiesCan on Wednesday as part of the ongoing “whole of government” efforts being made by the federal government to re-jig the Canadian economy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Other provinces have had success over the years with oil and gas and potash. Manitoba’s advantage is the investment that has already been made in generating green energy. There are a number of companies now thinking of moving here. That’s a good thing,” Winram said.

The MEIA has received $75,000 from PrairiesCan as seed funding for the annual conference that started last year.

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is receiving $1.5 million to assist its members in identifying and implementing digital infrastructure, and the University of Manitoba will get $443,000 to advance the development of micro-electronic technologies for value-added agriculture, aerospace and biodiagnostic instruments.

Supply Chain Canada is receiving $713,300 to develop a toolkit to serve as a resource for small- and medium-sized enterprises to tap into circular economy options in their own supply chains.

Rick Reid, executive director of the Supply Chain Management Association Manitoba, said that while it may require an investment for some, it will not be hard to show companies that cleaning up their supply chain is an opportunity to enhance profitability.

“It’s all about the decisions that are made. The toolkit that we’re developing will show folks where the opportunities are and where the risks are,” he said.

More regulations are going to come that will add costs into the supply chain and companies that take the care to make their systems more efficient will benefit, he said.

Among other things, finding domestic suppliers rather than importing from overseas may mean a company will pay more for inputs, but it will likely mean a much lighter carbon footprint and financial benefits will be attached to that, Reid said.

AMC Foam Technologies, a Winnipeg manufacturer of rigid foam insulation material, is receiving $1.9 million from a different PrairiesCan fund that helps create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth.

It will use the funds to increase manufacturing capacity to provide an energy-efficient alternative for commercial and residential buildings that aim to achieve net-zero emissions.

“The Prairies are well positioned and equipped with a green economic advantage,” said PrairiesCan Minister Dan Vandal, a Winnipeg MP.

He said that includes rich critical minerals deposits, clean energy and a world class transportation infrastructure.

“Our goal to be at net zero by 2050,” Vandal said. “That is going to take an absolute whole of government approach. We are not wavering. Our future depends on it. We will continue moving forward.”

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca