Victoriaville, Quebec, April 11, 2013 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced that the firm MMS Laser has been granted financial assistance to acquire equipment and complete its start-up activities.
“The Government of Canada believes that economic diversification is the key to the future for Quebec communities who rely on the forestry. That is why it is supporting the establishment of MMS Laser, whose arrival will help grow the economy and create jobs,” said Mr. Gourde.
Founded in 2012, MMS Laser specializes in the design and manufacture of metal parts and carries out turnkey projects for its customers using such processes as laser cutting, folding, stitch welding and metal machining. The funding from Canada Economic Development has enabled the young company to purchase production equipment.
“The Government of Canada remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security,” concluded MP Gourde.
This financial assistance has been granted in the form of a $500,000 repayable contribution through Canada Economic Development’s Temporary Initiative for the Strengthening of Quebec’s Forest Economies (TISQFE).
This measure is one of several put in place by the Government of Canada to counteract the effects of the forest crisis. Others include the Community Adjustment Fund, with its $1-billion budget over two years to mitigate the impact of the crisis, the $1 billion granted to the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program to help enterprises carry out environmentally-friendly projects, and the $238 million invested, in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, for silvicultural work and the maintenance of multi-use forest roads. Workers have also received support from numerous measures introduced by the Government of Canada to help them through the global economic crisis.
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