July 5, 2022 – Greater Sudbury, ON

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, joined Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, and Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages to announce a FedNor investment of $2,004,195 in two BEV projects in Greater Sudbury to support jobs, growth and the evolution of Northern Ontario’s green economy.

Canada’s mining industry is faced with a generational opportunity: critical minerals. Every stage of the critical minerals value chain presents an opportunity for Canada: exploration, mining, processing, manufacturing and advanced manufacturing, and recycling. Moreover, these opportunities exist in every region of the country. In Northern Ontario, the mining industry produces many of the critical minerals needed to make the batteries that power electric vehicles. Driven by a major shift to clean-tech to reduce global emissions, the region is positioning itself to capitalize on opportunities to develop and test Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) for industrial use.

Of the total, NORCAT will receive $1,321,875 to to acquire and incorporate mining equipment powered by batteries and electric motors. This investment will support NORCAT in transitioning to a green operation through the purchase of BEVs and revamping and upgrading of infrastructure as part of the transition. The new equipment will create opportunities for the development, testing, and demonstration of products such as software and IT for this emerging mining equipment technology, while also providing hands-on exposure for mining companies and work-force training.

As part of the announcement, Cambrian College will receive FedNor funding of $682,320 to establish a BEV Lab within its Centre for Smart Mining, a nationally recognized Technology Access Centre, located in the Glencore Centre for Innovation. Once complete, the BEV lab will allow research staff, students, and faculty to work with industry partners to test and refine industrial BEV technology, particularly for the mining sector. This includes providing advanced support services to small businesses and mining companies for testing batteries, powertrains and electric motors for industrial equipment, as well as facilitating specialized training of employees on heavy-duty BEV maintenance

Quotes

“Demand for electric vehicles is increasing around the world and Northern Ontario is poised to take advantage of the opportunities the changing market is presenting. Our government is pleased to support Cambrian College and NORCAT in their efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, while accelerating the evolution of Northern Ontario’s BEV market." - The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor

 “Today’s announcement will help create many new economic benefits for Greater Sudbury and beyond. Replacing diesel powered equipment with electric alternatives will help reduce emissions, increase efficiencies and create a healthier planet and work environments due to improved air quality. Together, we are building a world-class BEV hub in Northern Ontario, while helping our mining and industrial sectors go green.” - Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury

 “The FedNor support announced today will help Canada transition to green technologies through innovation. Empowering Canadian businesses to pioneer new industry developments is a critical means of keeping our economy strong, and remaining on the cutting edge of technology ensures we remain global leaders in green modernization.” - Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages

 “NORCAT is a global leader in skilled labour training and development, and FedNor’s support is helping to make sure we remain a one-stop shop for all that is the future of mining technology and innovation. This funding will foster a green transition not only with us at NORCAT, but with our community partners and fellow innovative companies. Today’s announcement will help us continue to drive future economic and social prosperity for Canadians.” - Don Duval, CEO, NORCAT

“The advancement of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) is absolutely key to our nation meeting its commitments to reducing its carbon footprint. This funding from FedNor will help Cambrian and the community of Greater Sudbury continue to be a leader in driving forward industrial BEV technology - BEV technology is smart mining in action. We’re honoured to be part of this evolution in mining and heavy industry." - Dr. Mike Committo, Director of Cambrian R&D, the applied research division of Cambrian College