Ottawa welcomes the agreement between Bombardier and Airbus

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Sébastien St-Jean / QMI Agency
The minister of international Trade, François-Philippe Champagne.

Sarah Bélisle

Monday, 16 October 2017 21:31

UPDATE
Monday, 16 October 2017 21:44

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OTTAWA | The acquisition of the majority shares of the C Series of Bombardier by the european giant Airbus will ensure the “survival of the aerospace industry” here, welcomed Ottawa on Monday night.

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“It is a proclamation that will allow the survival of the aerospace industry, of course, is in Canada. It is known that the aerospace industry is more than 200 000 jobs and 300 SMES across Quebec and Ontario,” said minister of international Trade, François-Philippe Champagne at a press conference in the evening at the Ottawa parliament.

Earlier in the evening, it was announced that Airbus will now be the majority shareholder of the C Series with 50,01% of the shares. Bombardier will own 31 % and the government of Quebec 19 % of the limited partnership who manages the C Series.

This transaction will allow the C series to gain access to new markets, which means more production and more jobs here in Canada. We believe that it is very important and good for the market of the aerospace industry “, assured the minister of Innovation, Science and economic Development Navdeep Bains.

In effect, the commercial network of Airbus will be used to fill the backlog of equipment, ” said the minister Champagne at his side. The benefits to Quebec will be important, according to him.

No loss of employment

Me I look at this ad and I say to me “we are given the means to succeed”. We have a guaranteed level of production, guaranteed level of headquarters, secured at the level of jobs,” said Mr. Champagne.

In fact, Airbus has given the guarantee that no worker of Bombardier would not lose his job, and that the headquarters would remain in Quebec.

The agreement still needs to pass the approval process of the federal government.

“In the context of such proposals for investments, the government needs to assess if they are in the national interest. The agreement with Airbus, as any proposal for the substantial investment made in the country by non-Canadians is subject to the “Investment Canada Act”, a law of my jurisdiction, said the minister Baths. During my review, I will rate the extent to which this agreement will benefit Canadians, will support our aerospace sector and create good jobs. “

The C Series is facing many challenges. Among these, recall that, according to two preliminary decisions made by the u.s. department of Commerce, costs, compensatory and anti-dumping duties of 300 % have been inflicted to the aircraft C Series from Bombardier, which quadruple their prices on the american market.

The ministers Baths and Champagne, did not respond to questions as to whether this agreement might affect the dispute between Bombardier, the C Series and the Department of commerce of the United States, or if it could have consequences for the relations of Canada and the United States.

“Clever”

When asked whether this was not there a second flagship québec business acquired by foreign interests, under the leadership of the federal liberals, the minister, Champagne replied : “I do not share your point of view on it. Me, I would rather say that what we did tonight, it is to ensure the survival of the aerospace industry in Canada and Quebec”.

The québec lieutenant of the NDP, Alexandre Boulerice qualified as “skilled” the transaction.

“The agreement with Airbus is very skilled at two levels. First, the magnitude of the network of the French company will add value to this product from quebec. Then, we just short-circuit the attacks of Boeing and administration Trump, he did know. However, even if one welcomes the maintenance of the headquarters of the C Series in Quebec, it is hoped that the backlog international, SwissAir, Air Baltic and carriers asian, will keep the jobs in Mirabel. Protecting the good jobs from us, it is a priority for the NDP,” said new democrat member of parliament in the evening.

On the side of the official Opposition, the conservative mp Maxime Bernier was called for Monday evening answers to the questions it raises, referring to the repayable loan of 372,5 million $ granted by the Trudeau government to the giant quebec for aeronautics in the beginning of the year.

“If the Cseries has such a potential to the point of bringing Airbus to take control, why did she need the taxpayers’ money?, he wrote on Twitter. Who benefits most from the taxpayers ‘ money with this transaction? The family that controls Bombardier? Or Airbus? We want answers.”