$49M SIF investment aids construction of $3.5B plastics facility in Alberta

Ottawa is providing $49 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund to Calgary-based Inter Pipeline Ltd. for $3.5-billion project to produce high-quality polypropylene, a plastic prized for its durability and recyclability, from low-priced Canadian propane. The Heartland Petrochemical Complex will be built in Strathcona County north of Edmonton, with construction beginning in 2021. The investment is expected to create 175 new jobs and secure 2,000 construction jobs for the life of the project. The SIF support will help Inter Pipeline increase its co-op positions for post-secondary students, as well as invest in R&D and opportunities for women in trades. Inter Pipeline will also invest $10 million in efforts to reduce plastic waste, including the reduction of microplastics in water, as a contribution to Canada's environmental goals.