Saint-Lambert de-Lauzon, Quebec, July 15, 2009 - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced the awarding of $787,500 in repayable funding to Métal Bernard Inc. under the Business and Regional Growth program for the acquisition of modern laser cutting equipment.
Specializing in the metal processing sector, Métal Bernard manufactures products, the majority of them for export, as a subcontractor for enterprises operating in the ground and rail transport industry.
Applauding the company's dynamism and the audacity of its management team, Minister of State Lebel noted that “Métal Bernard is focusing on the adoption of leading-edge technology and the acquisition of specialized equipment as a means of better meeting its clients' needs and requirements and of increasing its sales volume. This is a carefully-weighed decision that will enable the company not only to create nine new jobs in the short term, but also to make considerable gains in productivity, develop highly-competitive products and position itself solidly for the period of recovery that is expected to follow the current economic downturn. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting enterprises that, like this Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon SMEs , are setting strategic plans and investing in projects that will further their objectives”.
Mr. Gourde expressed his delight that Métal Bernard, a flagship enterprise of the Chaudière-Appalaches metal manufacturing sector, is engaging resolutely in a process to improve its competitiveness. The Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière also noted that Métal Bernard is the only company in Canada that cuts, folds and rolls large-dimension metal sheets under one roof.
This funding from the Government of Canada has been awarded under the Productivity Support component of Canada Economic Development's Business and Regional Growth program. This measure seeks to help enterprises bolster their performance, become more competitive and engage more heavily in innovation as a means of facilitating their sustainable growth. Projects funded through this initiative will help Quebec manufacturers increase their competitiveness through better productivity.
In January, the Government of Canada adopted Canada's Economic Action Plan to help stimulate job-creating investments. For more on this, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca .
- 30 -
Sources:
Suzanne Thebarge
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-6714
Cell.: 514-895-6237
E-mail: suzanne.thebarge@dec-ced.gc.ca
Jean-Philippe Payment
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: jean-philippe.payment@dec-ced.gc.ca
