Today, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South—Mount Pearl, along with Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced more than one million dollars in funding for five companies in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Our government supports the hard-working steel and aluminum workers and companies that are important to regional economies across Canada. Our investments to support small and medium-sized producers and users of steel and aluminum will help these businesses innovate to drive productivity, scale up and expand into new markets to create good middle-class jobs.”

– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

“The small and medium-sized businesses in our steel and aluminum industries are important contributors to the economic vitality of communities across the country. Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, and by investing in their success, we are investing in the success of all Canadians.” 

– The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion

“Our government knows that local businesses are vital for expanding regional innovation and competitiveness. These investments support local businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador’s steel and aluminum supply chain – helping them with new opportunities, contributing to our province’s economic growth, and creating jobs here at home.”

– The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl

“In order to stay competitive, companies need to adopt new technology and find ways to operate more productive, efficient businesses. This initiative is enabling local fabrication and manufacturing businesses to upgrade their equipment and processes, which will lead to continued growth, increased productivity and more success in national and international markets.” 

– Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East

• Regional development agencies are one of Canada’s four flagship platforms supporting innovation, along with the Industrial Research Assistance Program, the Strategic Innovation Fund and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.

• The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan by providing regionally tailored, nationally consistent support for business productivity and scale-up and by helping enhance regional technology clusters and innovation ecosystems.

• In 2018, Canada’s steel and aluminum industry employed more than 33,500 Canadians and contributed $8.9 billion to the value of Canada’s goods produced and services provided.

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• Supporting Canadian small and medium-sized enterprise users of steel and aluminum
• Five Local Companies Benefit from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Support for Steel and Aluminum Sector

Dani Keenan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science an Economic Development
343-291-1710

Paul McGrath
Director, Communications
ACOA NL
709-772-2984
paul.mcgrath@canada.ca

Jason Fudge
Chief Operating Officer
D.F. Barnes Fabrication Limited
709-726-6820
jfudge@dfbarnes.com

Chris King
Vice President, Construction and Fabrication
Pennecon Fabrication Limited
709-753-8101
Chris.King@pennecon.com

Gary Williams
Manager, Plant Operations
Browning Harvey Limited
709-579-4116
gwilliams@aharvey.nf.ca

Dan Farrell
Vice President, Strategy and Development
The Cahill Group
709-757-9282 extension 245
dfarrell@cahill.ca

Stephen Crane
President
C&W Offshore Limited
709-368-4300
scrane@cwoffshore.ca