The Government of Canada announced a new $7.8-million investment in three Quebec companies that will improve surface water quality in Sherbrooke and Montreal. The investments will support the use of Canadian water technologies to treat industrial wastewater.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
The investment includes:
- $3.9 million for The Magpie Mines Inc. of Montréal, which is using low-grade ores to develop a process to produce synthetic rutile, a popular white pigment used in paints, plastics, paper and foods;
- $2 million for E2Metrix Inc. of Sherbrooke, which has developed a new approach to wastewater treatment that reduces the release of contaminants into surface water; and
- $1.8 million for FlyScan Systems Inc. of Québec, which has developed a sensor that can detect small leaks in underground pipelines used to transport oil and liquid gas.
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.
Mohamed Laaroussi, CEO of E2Metrix said, “In Canada, like in the rest of the world, the capacity for wastewater treatment has reached its limits because of population growth and the emergence of new contaminants. The innovation developed by E2Metrix results in significantly lower concentrations of phosphorus and ammonia without resorting to chemical coagulants, leading to safer residues while reducing the volume of sludge generated. The unique properties of our patented anode make this possible. Our process, which complies with current regulations and the stricter ones to come, eliminates pathogenic micro-organisms and products that are harmful to human health such as hormones and endocrine disruptors.”
Minister Bibeau stated, “The new wastewater treatment processes developed in Sherbrooke by E2Metrix will go a long way toward protecting our ecosystems. Our government is proud to support projects like this, which promote clean technology and develop innovative sustainable development solutions.”
Bernard Sévigny, Mayor of Sherbrooke said,”Technological advances like those brought about by E2Metrix allow the city to reduce its environmental footprint. These novel solutions tackle global environmental and energy challenges, and I am very proud that the project to validate this innovative technology, which will take place over two years, is being carried out in city facilities.”
