Boeing is investing further in the Montreal aerospace hub after winning the award for Canada’s ASW competition with the P-8A Poseidon over a competing bid from Bombardier.  The company already has a strong regional presence, with over 500 suppliers for various Boeing programs.

Boeing is investing C$240 million in a partnership with the Quebec government to create an aerospace innovation zone in Montreal. The project includes a contribution by the Quebec Government of C$85 million and several corporations, including Pratt & Whitney Canada, Bombardier, Flying Whales Québec, and Thales Canada, totaling C$90 million. This C$415 million project was revealed at the Aerospace International Forum in Montreal today.

The innovation zone will operate in Montreal’s Saint-Laurent borough and the cities of Longueuil and Mirabel. It will be called Espace Aéro and overseen by Aéro Montréal, an industry association that aims to grow the industry in Quebec. It will include a development center, aircraft research, and training programs.

Boeing’s investment in Montréal as part of its Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitment includes C$95 million to Wisk for the development of the 6th-generation eVTOL autonomous commuter air taxi, C$35 million to Héroux-Devtek for a next-generation landing gear research and development project, and C$110 million for the creation of an aerospace development center to host aerospace research and development focused on decarbonization, electrification, autonomy, digitalization and advanced materials.

“Our government continues to play a vital role in the growth of Quebec’s aerospace industry,” said François-Phillipe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “ Today’s announcement is a concrete example of our aerospace economic benefits policy at work. With this important investment, Boeing is helping to strengthen Canada’s position as a global aerospace supply chain leader, driving innovation and creating high-quality jobs for Canadian workers.”

“The creation of Espace Aéro is the culmination of many years of collaborative efforts to accelerate the sustainable transformation of our industry. By focusing on decarbonization and autonomy, Espace Aéro will serve as a showcase for Québec: a powerful lever for attracting tomorrow’s talent and local and international recognition,”said Mélanie Lussier, President and CEO of Aéro Montréal.

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, stated “Quebec’s aerospace cluster is a cornerstone of our economy and supports well-paying jobs for Canadian workers. Major defence procurement projects enable us to not only strengthen the operational capabilities of our armed forces, but also to ensure that companies in the Canadian supply chain can benefit from significant economic spin-offs. The International Aerospace Innovation Forum once again underlines the Canadian government’s commitment to the innovative work of the Canadian defence and aerospace industry.”

Boeing has a target commitment of $5.4 billion over the next decade to support the Canadian economy and has chosen innovation and targeted investments as its first efforts.  It is estimated that the P-8A program will result in more than 3,500 jobs and about $485 million annually to the Canadian economy.

The Bottom Line

This win-win arrangement with the Quebec aerospace sector will provide an innovation platform in the world’s third-largest aerospace hub and support the 500+ supply chain players supplying Boeing within that hub. 

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