ESTEVAN — The Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Supply Association (SIMSA) and the Southeast Techhub expect federal and provincial funding will help businesses enter the nuclear supply chain.
During an April 7 press conference at the Techhub in Estevan, Buckley Belanger, the federal Secretary of State for Rural Development, announced $625,100 from the federal government's PrairiesCan program, while Travis Keisig, the legislative secretary to the minister of Crown Investments Corporation, announced $286,000 in provincial backing. The money will be shared by SIMSA, SETH and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI).
Speaking at a news conference April 7 in Estevan, SIMSA executive director Eric Anderson said the support is about sharing information and ideas, having people to talk to, bridging gaps and pulling things together.
“Sometimes, the knowledge shares are worth more than the money,” said Anderson.
The money will enable people to decide if they want to be part of the nuclear supply chain, he said, and if they do, then it starts them down the path.
“There’s a lot of investment that’s required up front before you get in. So you have to put all this money out, and then there’s money later, so someone has to bridge the gap. This money allows the gap to be bridged," Anderson said.
He noted that SIMSA representatives have been in Estevan previously to talk about the supply chain matters.
SIMSA has worked with PrairiesCan previously, and Anderson noted people in the federal government have talked about Saskatchewan’s importance in being an energy hub and building the country.
SETH executive director Gordon More noted Estevan has a long and rich history when it comes to technology and innovation, with people like Eric Grimson (now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Jeff Sandquist (now the head of artificial intelligence at Walmart) hailing from Estevan.
"The question isn’t can rural innovate. The question is how can we make sure that the next generation doesn’t have to leave to do it. That is why SETH was created, to build the systems, the networks and the opportunities so innovation can happen right here in rural.”
For the past 18 months, More has spent time reaching out to leaders across Canada so that they know rural and innovation go together.
“It still challenges a lot about assumptions. It disrupts how we think about where innovation happens, and it drives it in what it looks like.”
While the announcement on April 7 was about funding for SETH and SMRs, More said it’s also people taking time to come to a rural community; governments, industry and organizations showing up to say rural Canada and its people matter; and realizing the ability to innovate is a reality worth investing in.
"What’s happening here in Estevan is not unique because it’s rare. It’s unique because it’s finally being recognized. My hope is that today is not just a signal of support for this region, but a signal of support for all of rural Canada, that innovation is not just urban, it is not centralized, it is everywhere and it is worth backing," said More.
