Government of Canada invests in Nova Scotia’s clean technology sector

OTTAWA – Canadians will benefit from a new innovation that reduces carbon dioxide emissions, conserves fresh water and leads to greener buildings as a result of a $510,000 investment by the Government of Canada. This investment will foster innovation in carbon sequestering technology that captures carbon dioxide and encases this harmful greenhouse gas permanently in concrete.

This investment in CarbonCure, a clean technology company based in Dartmouth, NS, will lead to well-paying middle-class jobs and new business opportunities for Canadians. It will also lead to cleaner technologies that result in less air pollution and healthier communities.

The announcement was made June 30th by Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

The funding will support CarbonCure’s efforts to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the environment during the process of producing concrete used to construct buildings. The company has developed a technology that traps and stores carbon dioxide emissions inside concrete. The concrete is then used to retrofit buildings. CarbonCure’s technology results in stronger concrete that turns a harmful greenhouse gas into an ingredient for a value-added commodity.

“CarbonCure’s technology captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial pollution. And then, through a chemical reaction, those waste greenhouse gases are recycled back into the process for producing concrete. This technology makes stronger concrete with a lower carbon footprint. It has the potential to create well-paying middle-class jobs in Dartmouth and equip Nova Scotians with the skills they need for a fast-growing, globally competitive economy based on clean technology,” said Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour.

This project is being funded through Sustainable Development Technology Canada, which works with Canadian companies to bring early-stage clean technologies to market.

Investments in clean technology are part of the Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it.

Quick facts

• To help clean technology firms grow and expand, the Innovation and Skills Plan includes investments of nearly $1.4 billion in new financing on a cash basis, starting in 2017–18. That funding will be allocated through the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada as follows:
  • $380 million in equity financing to support clean technology producers
  • $570 million in working capital to support clean technology producers
  • $450 million in additional project finance for clean technology producers
• Budget 2017 also commits $400 million to recapitalize Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s SD Tech Fund, which supports the development and demonstration of early-stage clean technology projects.

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada