Quebec unveils aerospace strategy to woo new players

After agreeing last year to invest $1 billion U.S. in Bombardier’s CSeries jet program, and pledging $250 million over five years for the aerospace industry in its last provincial budget, the Quebec government Monday unveiled its new aerospace strategy.

Dominique Anglade,  minister of economy, science and innovation, joined Premier Philippe Couillard for presentation of the plan at École nationale d’aérotechnique in Saint-Hubert.

One of its goals will be to attract more industry leaders to the province, where it would join the likes of Bombardier, Bell Helicopter, Pratt & Whitney and CAE.

In the hopes of further diversifying the industry, efforts will be made to bolster the security and defence sectors and further develop a growing category, drones.

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal hailed the new strategy as an important adjustment that takes into account the evolution of  the industry.

It’s estimated that the province’s aerospace industries account for 40,000 jobs and annual revenue of about $15.5 billion.