SAINT-LAURENT, Quebec, January 13, 2009 — The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, announced today an investment in research and development (R&D) for innovative cockpit technologies by Esterline CMC Electronics Inc. (CMC).
“Our government acknowledges the strategic importance of Canada's manufacturing sector and is implementing measures to strengthen it,” said Minister Clement. “In addition to encouraging Canadian companies to perform cutting-edge R&D, the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) attracts foreign investment to Canada, advances innovation and helps develop a highly skilled workforce.”
“Our government is committed to setting the right business conditions to build a competitive and dynamic economy,” said Minister Paradis. “Creating public–private sector partnerships with companies such as CMC will help to ensure that Canada remains at the forefront of the aerospace and defence industry.”
Based in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, this $149.4-million project will expand CMC's technological capabilities by developing cost-effective cockpit technologies for next-generation business jets, helicopters and transport aircraft. The Government of Canada is contributing a $52.3-million repayable investment towards the project. The goal of the project is to create a complete cockpit system with open architecture, which will make the components of the cockpit easily customizable and adaptable to both changing technologies and varied aircraft platforms. This project will create and/or maintain many high-technology jobs for Canadian engineers and professionals.
“This partnership with the federal government will help position CMC as an important player in the high-technology market of integrated cockpits,” said Jean-Pierre Mortreux, President and CEO of CMC. “By undertaking this R&D project, our company will continue to develop products that are on the leading edge of this ever-changing industry.”
The Canadian aerospace industry has annual sales of approximately $22.7 billion and employs 82 000 skilled workers throughout the country.
This investment is being made through SADI, which supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the aerospace, defence, space and security industries. SADI is managed by the Industrial Technologies Office, a special operating agency of Industry Canada with a mandate to advance leading-edge R&D by Canadian industries.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
