National

Feds give millions to B.C.'s STEMCELL Technologies and HTEC for facility construction

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Mar, 2025 12:12 PM

The federal government says it's pumping nearly $100 million into two B.C. firms to support the construction of a hydrogen fuel facility and two "cutting-edge biomanufacturing facilities" for vaccines and other treatments.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry says North Vancouver-based HTEC, a hydrogen energy firm, is getting $49 million toward a facility that turns "industrial byproduct hydrogen" into fuel.

The ministry says the facility is part of the company's plan to create a hydrogen fuel station network between B.C. and Alberta, which has also received support from the provincial government and a sizable loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank last year.

Industry Minister Anita Anand also announced a $49.9-million investment in Burnaby-based STEMCELL Technologies, which will go toward two new biomanufacturing facilities to ramp up production of "specialized inputs that are critical to the development and manufacturing of vaccines, therapies and diagnostics."

Dr. Allen Eaves, the company's founder, says the funding will help fill "a gap in the raw materials required for large-scale manufacturing of vaccines" and other biotechnology products.

The industry ministry says the funding is from the federal Strategic Innovation Fund.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Wounded Victoria officer recalls wild robbery shootout ahead of two-year anniversary

Police fired more than 100 rounds in the 26 seconds that followed, killing 22-year-old twin brothers Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie. Both men were wearing masks and body armour, and were carrying semi-automatic rifles. Police couldn't say who shot first.

Wounded Victoria officer recalls wild robbery shootout ahead of two-year anniversary

Eligibility for Ottawa's dental plan expands to children, people with disabilities

When the government first announced people with disabilities would have access to national dental coverage this year, Antonella Giordano really started to look forward to no longer paying out of pocket to care for her teeth. The 61-year-old Montrealer has been on disability from work for more than a decade for reasons related to her mental health.

Eligibility for Ottawa's dental plan expands to children, people with disabilities

Optimistic, but aware: wet weather easing Fort Nelson fire fears

The mayor of Fort Nelson says the community is feeling more comfortable after a week of wet weather and a downgraded drought threat, but that doesn't mean they're blind to the risk of wildfires that still exists in the region.

Optimistic, but aware: wet weather easing Fort Nelson fire fears

No deaths in Winnipeg house blast, no confirmed cause yet: police

Police say the occupants of a Winnipeg home destroyed in an explosion have been located and are safe. They say a father and daughter who lived in the home left before the blast and were found later in the day.

No deaths in Winnipeg house blast, no confirmed cause yet: police

B.C. homes and businesses to be eligible for rebates for rooftop solar systems

British Columbia's public power utility says for the first time it will provide rebates for the installation of rooftop solar and battery storage systems for residents and businesses. BC Hydro says in a news release that eligible homeowners can receive rebates up to $10,000 for installing a qualified solar and battery storage system, while apartment buildings, schools, businesses and others could get from $50,000 to $150,000 back.

B.C. homes and businesses to be eligible for rebates for rooftop solar systems

Higher share of foreign workers became permanent residents in recent years: StatCan

Foreign workers have been making the transition to permanent residency at higher rates in recent years, Statistics Canada says. A new report from the federal agency shows that between 2016 and 2020, 23 per cent of foreign workers had become permanent residents two years after obtaining their first work permits.