Innovation minister says Liberals ready to invest in Bombardier, cites conditions

In early September, Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) received the second of two instalments of US$500 million from the Quebec government.

Quebec now owns 49.5 per cent of a new limited partnership of the CSeries aircraft program, including larger versions of the plane beyond the CS100 and CS300 should they be developed.

Bains wouldn’t give details as to exactly how much Ottawa will invest or where the money will be targeted.

He did reiterate the conditions his government will place on any future funding.

Ottawa wants Bombardier to keep its head office and the jobs connected to its research and development activities in the country, he said.

“These are good-quality jobs that pay 60 per cent above the average manufacturing salary,” Bains said. “We want good-quality jobs here in Canada. We want to focus on research and development and we want to set up the company for long-term success.”

Bombardier spokesman Simon Letendre said the firm meets “regularly” with federal officials and is “looking for a win-win solution in order to keep developing the CSeries.”

The CSeries has received major orders from Air Canada and Delta Air Lines. The company said it acquired 127 firm orders and 80 options in the first half of 2016.

Pierre Saint-Arnaud, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Innovation minister says Liberals ready to invest in Bombardier, cites conditions

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