Economic Action Plan 2013 - Benefits Quebec Aerospace Industry

MONTREAL, March 22, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal, Quebec's aerospace cluster, is pleased with the industry-specific measures announced yesterday in Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013.

"The measures announced are a positive response to the recommendations issued in the Aerospace Review report tabled last November. They are great news for the Quebec aerospace industry and attest to its strategic importance for the Canadian economy," said Gilles Labbé, chair of the board of Aéro Montréal and president and CEO of Héroux-Devtek.

The recommendations for 2013-2014 clearly reflect the main priorities the industry set during the consultations in which Aéro Montréal took part:

• A five-year, $1 billion investment as part of the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) and a commitment to review this program's administration and operating procedures in the coming year

• Implementation of the Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program, with a budget of $110 million over four years starting in 2014-2015 and $55 million per year thereafter, including $20 million per year from SADI

• Consultations on the creation of a National Aerospace Research and Technology Network

• A review of the cost-recovery rate for aircraft safety certification to ensure the program can keep up with growing demand

• A commitment by the federal government to review the recommendations in the Aerospace Review report in order to more effectively support leadership and Canada's policies on space

• A commitment to create economic opportunities tied to the development of key industrial capacities as part of military procurement programs

In addition, incentives for small businesses—such as tax breaks on new machinery and equipment—will promote growth of the industrial fabric and help strengthen the supply chain.

"We salute the government's vision in making aerospace a priority," said Aero Montréal president Suzanne Benoît. "This initial work plan dovetails with a number of initiatives implemented by actors in Quebec's aerospace cluster in the past ten years, such as the Greener Aircraft Catalyst Project (SA²GE) and the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Québec (CRIAQ), as well as the MACH Initiative, Aéro Montréal's supply chain development program. By actively supporting this up-and-coming sector with effective and well-designed programs, the Canadian government is helping ensure the industry's long term growth and the creation of high quality jobs for Canadians."

About Aéro Montréal

Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, is a strategic think tank that groups all the major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, associations and unions.

Aéro Montréal's mission is to mobilize industry players around common goals and concerted actions to increase the cohesion and optimize competitiveness of Québec's aerospace cluster. It aims to foster the growth and expansion of the cluster so as to ensure that it may continue to create wealth for Montréal, Québec and Canada. To find out more about Aéro Montréal, visit www.aeromontreal.ca.

SOURCE: Aéro Montréal

Amélie Hudon
Director, Communications and Strategy
Phone : [phone] Cell.: [phone]
[email protected]