Ms. Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Ms. Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Laurentides region, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, welcome Bell Helicopter Textron Canada's plan to relocate the assembly of its new Bell 505 five-passenger commercial helicopter to Mirabel. Assembly had originally been scheduled to take place in Louisiana in the U.S.
To support this relocation, the governments of Quebec and Canada will adjust certain conditions of their current loans with Bell Helicopter Textron Canada.
In exchange, in addition to moving the assembly of the Bell 505 to Quebec, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada commits to carrying out flight testing, certification and final assembly of its next commercial model in Mirabel. The company also commits to relocating the manufacture of certain components of its Bell 429, Bell 505 and Bell 525 models to Mirabel. These components are currently being manufactured by sub-contractors.
"Bell Helicopter Textron Canada is one of the leading companies in Quebec's aerospace industry. We are therefore proud to support this project, which will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in Quebec while securing the 900 or so existing jobs at the Mirabel facilities. This project is not only bringing the assembly of a new model to Quebec, but also favorably positioning the factory to accommodate the next commercial helicopter assembly program. Thanks to such initiatives and the soon-to-be implemented Quebec aerospace strategy, we are ensuring the long-term growth of Quebec's aerospace industry," said Minister Anglade.
"The relocation of this assembly program to Mirabel is excellent news for the economic health of our region. Since 1983, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada has contributed to the region's economic growth and has been one of the most important employers in the Laurentides. I am thinking especially of all the workers who will now have secure jobs for the next few years," added Minister St-Pierre.
"Innovation is a core Canadian value, and Bell Helicopter Textron Canada's decision to move the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X assembly line to Canada speaks to the strong advanced manufacturing capabilities that exist here in Mirabel specifically, as well as in the rest of the country. Bell Helicopter Textron Canada is a source of pride and is a key player in Quebec's world-class aerospace cluster. By bringing new highly skilled jobs to Quebec, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada is working to ensure the aerospace industry's position as one of the most innovative and export-driven in Canada," said the Honourable Navdeep Bains.
"We are focused on making Canada a winner in the global economy. In order to bring growth to the middle class, and those working hard to join it, we must continue to expand trade and investment in our country. Today's announcement is wonderful news for both Quebec and Canada," said the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. specializing in the manufacture of commercial helicopters, has been operating in Quebec since 1983. Its facilities, which are located in Mirabel, produce three models of helicopter: the six-passenger, single-engine 407 model; the dual-engine composite 429 model; and the versatile 13-passenger dual-engine 412 model.