Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced support that will maintain jobs in Canada's aerospace industry by announcing a contract for maintenance of Canada's fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters.
"This contract means hundreds of full-time jobs in Quebec and Alberta on a long-term basis, while ensuring the Canadian Forces have the equipment they need to serve Canada," said Prime Minister Harper. "This is great news for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited workers in Calgary and Mirabel, and will help strengthen the aerospace industry in those regions."
The contract, which covers the repair and overhaul, parts provisioning, support services and engineering services for the CH-146 Griffon helicopters, will maintain 300 jobs in the aerospace industry in Calgary, Alberta, and Mirabel, Quebec. Additional subcontracts will be awarded over the contract period to provide support to select military bases, such as Valcartier, Quebec; Petawawa and Trenton in Ontario; and Gagetown, New Brunswick, and for various companies located in the Western provinces.
In service in Canada since 1995, the Griffon is used at home and abroad for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions, surveillance and reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and counter-drug operations. The helicopter has also played a key role in many national and international humanitarian relief operations, including the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, and the recent snow storm in southern Ontario.
