M) is Waneta plaz The People Place" is Re. ti) Meh one al Newitt Research key to growth in pulp and paper industry In 1981 more than $28 billion worth of forest products were manufactured in Canada, and some 300,000 people were directly employed in the forest industry. In the same year forest industry exports were $13 billion, or 16 per cent of total Canadian exports. Impressive figures, but if Canada is to maintain its prominence in the harvesting and manufacturing of forest products, those involved in the industry must be able to recognize and adapt new methods of production and innovative resource utilization. To this end, nearly all'of the companies in one major sector of the industry, pulp and paper, have been working cooperatively for ny years to promote research and development in their field. In 1925 they formed the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (PPRIC), a non-profit organization designed to provide technical Trade visitors common in B.C. DRIE's Trade and Tourism Branch regularly welcomes business visitors from overseas and these visitors often would be of interest to business people in British Columbia, if only the local people knew who was coming.and when. Trade Commissioners from Pacifie Rim countries are regular visitors and are available for one-on-one consulta tions or as speakers to groups and associations. Since October the Trade and Tourism Branch has wel comed Canadian Ambassador Barry Steers from Japan, Commerical Counsellor d’Arcy McGee from Tokyo, Rod Mackenzie, trade commissioner from Czechoslovakia, Con sul-General Wilfrid Lavoie from Melbourne, Australia, John Broadbent, trade commissioner from Rio de Janeiro and several others. There have also been groups from Seattle and King County, the California State Assembly, the City of Chicago Transit Committee, a contractors’ mission from Trinidad and another group of contractors from Colombia. Anyone seeking to meet visitors is invited to call Don Wismer, Director of Trade and- Tourism, at 661-2260 in Vancouver or, officers in charge of these specific industry sectors: Shun Ishiguro at 661-2262 to discuss agriculture and food products, Rick Stephenson at 661-2259 to USS machinery and equipment, Don Cameron at 661-2259 to talk tourism and Bob Shaw at 661-2261 to discuss consultants, engineers and contractors visits. naveneenouessuseaseesnsnonesott Name change for agency The final step in the amalgamation of the forme Departments of Industry, Trade and Commerce and Re. gional Economic Expansion is now complete. As of December 1983 the new name is Department of Regional Industrial Expansion (DRIE). For informatio bout DRIE and its programs please contact: B.C. Regional Office B.C. Box 49178 Bentall Tower 4 1101 - 1055 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, B.C. V7X 1K8 (604) 666-1434 Business Information Centre (604) 661-2202 Outside of Vancouver Zenith 0-8200 (Toll Free) Victoria District Office 200-900 Fort St. Vietoria, B.C. V8V 3K2 (604) 388-3181 Prince George District Office 706 Permanent Tower 299 Victoria Street Prince George, B.C. V2L 5B8 (604) 562-4451. Jonvecuacesuassvenenoevensserenenonscsnneornneeseserssssseetacnen support to innovative activities and to carry out research that no single company could afford to conduct alone. Prior to 1956, the PPRIC was funded jointly by the Government of Canada and the pulp and paper industry, but for the past 27 years virtually all operating funds have been provided by the 13 member companies. In 1982, that amounted to an investment of about $15 milli from the iiylustry. As the demand for new technologies and more efficient processing systems has grown dramatically in recent years, the federal government has recognized the need to once again support the development of pulp and paper research and is contributing $17 million towards the construction and expansion of new facilities for the institute. At least $15 million of the funds will be used to construct the Western Research Laboratory at the | University of British Columbia Discovery Park, south of the University campus. Discovery Park is a research park established by the provincial government for the purpose of advancing research and cooperation between universities, institutes, governments and industry. The Institute will be close to similar and related organizations such as the UBC forestry faculty, Forintek Canada Corporation, B.C. Research and the planned UBC Pulp and Paper Centre. “These groups, together with the institute, repre- sent.a world-class centre of forest products research,” stated Ed Lumley, federal Minister of Regional Indus- trial Expansion while attending the recent unveiling of a model of the laboratory. “Together they will help to attract leading scientists and engineers from around the world.” Research activities, which will continue to be funded entirely by the industry, will include pulping of insect-killed wood, experimentation with little-used species such as poplar, testing environmental aspects of kraft pulping and bleaching, and researching new sources of energy. The Western Research Laboratory is part of a $77 million 10-year plan whch the industry is undertaking to increase its international competitiveness. The major objectives of the plan are to reinforce the PPRIC’s research and development capabilities and programs, to work with Canadian universities to strengthen and broaden education and training pro- grams, and to initiate new areas of research and technical. development. By 1991 the Institute will have an annual operating budget of $37 million. The establishment of the laboratory will increase the PPRIC’s interaction with, and technical support to, mills in western Canada and is an example of positive cooperation between government and industry. “This project represents concrete action by the federal government to encourage greater industrial research and development in the forest products industry, as recently recommended by the federal government's Forest Industry Advisory Committee,” said Lumley. In addition to the $15 million contribution to the Vancouver project, the federal government is providing a further $2 million towards the expansion of the PPRIC's existing facility in Point Claire, Quebec. The total contribution of $17 million is provided under the federal Special Recovery Capital Projects Program. For the many companies and thousands of individuals in British Columbia who derive their live- lihood from the pulp and paper industry, the development of the research facility at UBC is a positive step towards strengthening this vital element of the province's economy. INDUSTRIAL PARK . . . Castlegar’s new industrial park was officiall ed March 26, 1982 in a special ceremony involving Senator Jack Austin, MLA Terry RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK Construction of Vancouver's Regional Rapid Transit System is progressing smoothly towards its mid-1985 com. pletion date. Once operating, the Vancouver system will be the most advanced in the world, providing safe, efficient, comfortable public transportation. More than 300,000 people couldn't wait until 1986 to ride the new system as they took advantage of the free rides offered on the demonstration section at Main Street and Terminal Avernue. The demonstration rides took place over a six-month period as local residents and visitors from around the world flocked to the display, culminating with a turnout of thousands on Grey Cup weekend in late November. The system itself will be ready for extensive operational testing in 1985, while construction on the 15 stations re quired for the 21.4 km route will continue for another year. Public opening of this dynamic project is scheduled for early 1986, in time for Expo 86, which will be a showcase to the world demonstrating Canada’s ability to meet new tranportation challenges. LOCAL CONTRACTORS INVOLVED The total cost of the system is projected to be about $1 billion. More than $400 million of that will be spent on manpower, material and equipment in British Columbia, creating hundreds of jobs in the construction industry and generating new employment and contracts for many B.C. manufacturers. Bennett and Emmott Ltd. of Richmond received a $5.6 million contract to manufacture 250 linear induction motors for the 114 cars planned for the system. The motors, using magnetic force to propel each car along the track, are a key design feature in the performance and quiet operation of the vehicles. A wide steel plate which runs down tehe middle of the track reacts with the alternating current pulsing through the windings of the motors. The resulting magnetic force causes the plate and motors to try to join together, causing the vehicle to move. The total federal contribution to the Vancouver Regional Rapid Transit system is $60 million, which represents 50 per cent of the cost of the demonstration section and 50 per cent of the construction cost for the 114 cars required for the total system. TECHNOLOGY FEATURED The federal government's financial contribution to the project is part of its ongoing commitment to stimulate industrial and trade development through the support of innovative Canadian technology. Segarty and Mayor Audrey Moor: Senator Austin celebrate the unm memorative bronze plaqu: There are parks. ..and parks Unlike the province's many scenic and recreational parks, British Columbia’ justrial parks are designed, not for play, but for work. Where serviced industrial land will encourage regional economic development and provide jobs, DRIE an the proyineial Ministry of Industry and Small Business Development have jointly provided low-interest loans, under the Industrial Development Subsidiary Agreement, IDSA. “British Columbia's economy is characterized by a lack of diversity,” explains Tom Turner, DRIE’s Manager of Industrial Development, adding, “Recognition by both governments of the need for increased secondary manufac- turing and support activities, especially in less populated areas of the province, led to the establishment of IDSA. “Low-interest financing for industrial parks encourages more equitable distribution of secondary industries and their benefits, to all areas of British Columbia. IDSA loans for industrial park development are used to cover the initial costs of sewer, water and drainage systems, electrical power, road access where necessary and other Castlegar, Squamish, Campbell River, Kelowna, Cran. brook, Dawson Creek, and Elkford are just some of the com- munities which now have, or are in the process of con- structing, industrial parks to attract tenants by the reason. able rates made possible through the IDSA assistance. Many of the parks are municipally owned, and IDSA loans have enabled local governments to proceed with development without severely straining municipal resources or raising local taxes. Businesses benefit from the built-in advangages of a well located industrial site and the spin-offs from related industries in the same location. Armstrong’s new industrial park is expected to diversify this community's farm-based economy and expand local economic potential. In spite of other positive factors, the community had the lowest amount of zoned industrial land in the North Okanagan region and was losing potential development opportunities as a result. Projections indicate that once completed, the city's new Nanaimo. The 350-acre site, developed by the British Columba Development Corporation, is expected to create 1,600 new jobs and generate capital investment exceeding $300 million. Approval for an IDSA loan, to a municipality or de- veloper, depends upon the industrial park's potential to attract new business to a region or local area. Key communities, with a stable population and a good location relative to principal transportation and commu- nication services, have been approved for industrial park ites, providing ‘ammunition’ for the regional economic de- velopment commissioner in his hunt for new industrial prospects. In addition to low-interest loans for industrial infras- tructure, IDSA has also supported research projects to identify manufacturing opportunities and to assist regional development planning. i development commissioners operat- ing in Britiah Columbia, and the Assistance to Small Enter- prise Program, which has encouraged the establishment or expansion of small businesses outside of metropolitan areas, have also been supported by IDSA funding. $22:2:4.422-24422 222422