Alma, Quebec, May 17, 2013 – 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, today announced that Aéroport d’Alma has been granted financial assistance to build the infrastructure needed to group all of the activities of the Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence under one roof.
“By supporting local stakeholders in the development of the Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence at Alma airport, the Government of Canada is showing proof of its determination to stimulate sectors of the economy that can generate major spinoffs for the region,” said Minister Lebel.
The project involves, among other things, building a facility to house offices and a hangar on the Alma airport site. This large-scale initiative will ensure the availability of adequate space for organizations and enterprises working on the development and testing of equipment and applications for drones (unmanned aerial vehicles).
This high-technology industry offers tremendous potential in terms of economic spinoffs for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean civil and commercial aeronautics sector. This could result in the development of applications in such areas as communications, mining, gas and oil prospecting, forest protection and civil protection.
“Our government 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 Minister Lebel.
This assistance, granted in the form of a $2.5 million non-repayable financial contribution, has been awarded through Canada Economic Development’s Quebec Economic Development Program. The total cost of the project, which includes several phases, is estimated at more than $4.3 million.
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