Partnership Agreement in Place

The Department of Natural Resources and Forintek Canada Corp. have announced a partnership agreement to provide technical advice to the wood product manufacturing industry in Nova Scotia.

Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt and Jean-Claude Mercier, vice-president Eastern region, Forintek Canada Corp., made the announcement Wednesday, June 2, in Charlottetown during the annual meeting of the Maritime Lumber Bureau.

"We are pleased to enter into this partnership to provide technical support to the industry," said Mr. Hurlburt. "Forintek will hire an industrial advisor who will provide up-to-date information on new technology and innovations."

The advisor will be one of 200 Forintek employees devoted to the technical and economical improvement of the solid wood industry, making Nova Scotia part of a Canada-wide network.

"The Nova Scotia forest industry will find the industrial advisor to be a person who is aware and attentive to their needs," said Mr. Mercier. "They will be able to direct the industry to the best technologies and practices for their business."

The industrial advisor will regularly visit the Nova Scotia mills and participate in regular industry meetings and activities. The person will be located within a Department of Natural Resources office.

Forintek Canada Corp. is Canada's leading national research organization for processing wood products. Research activities include projects looking at basic wood properties; processing of solid wood products; composite products, plywood, particle board; value-added processing; building codes and systems; and wood protection.

The Department of Natural Resources has been a member and supporter of Forintek for the past 25 years.