March 15, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
The Government of Canada awards $1.2 million in financial assistance to the Laval-based company Mecaer America
March 13, 2019 – Laval, Quebec – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
Mecaer America, Inc. is a leader in manufacturing landing gears for helicopters, regional and business transport aircraft, and military training aircraft. To better meet the needs of its clients and to ensure its growth, the company will receive a repayable contribution of $1.2 million from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. Through that financial assistance, the company will be able to invest in new procedures leading to the creation of a unique, world-renowned centre of excellence for the design, manufacture and qualification of its integrated landing gear systems.
Yves Robillard, Member of Parliament for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, announced that funding today. The Government of Canada's assistance will enable Mecaer America to meet the growing global demand for aircraft production, consolidate Greater Montréal's aerospace cluster and better position that cluster on the international stage. The creation of a centre of excellence and the technological transformation of the Laval plant will also generate benefits for Canadian suppliers, from whom Mecaer America makes tens of millions of dollars in purchases each year.
Mecaer America is wholly owned by Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG), one of the premier international suppliers of aircraft solutions used in four business lines: actuating and flight control systems, landing gear systems, cabin comfort systems and aviation services. MAG is an Italian company with 600 employees in Italy, Canada and the United States. Mecaer America has been based in Laval since 2002 and specializes in the design, manufacture and qualification of integrated landing gear systems. The Laval subsidiary has 125 highly qualified employees, 20% of whom are devoted to research and development.
Workers in the aerospace industry are highly qualified and contribute to the country's economic vitality through their well-paying jobs. This is why the Government of Canada makes strategic investments that enable companies in this sector to increase their knowledge and expertise.
“In line with our commitment to foster growth for the Canadian economy, the Government of Canada's goal is to provide better support for businesses that are making investments to improve their productivity and ensure their growth and that of the Canadian economy.”
Yves Robillard, Member of Parliament for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin
“As Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, my goal is to help businesses grow and innovate so that they can increase their competitiveness and create good-quality jobs and wealth for Canadians. That is why we are providing our support to Mecaer America, whose success reflects on the region and on the Canadian economy as a whole.”
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED
“The financial assistance from both levels of government is essential for our strategic development. It also shows the welcome extended to an Italian company that has made significant investments in Quebec. Thank you to CED for its support.”
Chris O'Neill, President, Mecaer America
Today's announcement is made on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio, which is comprised of 17 federal departments and agencies, including CED and the other five regional development agencies.
The funding was awarded under CED's Quebec Economic Development Program. To find out more about CED and its priorities, see the 2018–2019 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
The year 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of federal regional economic development in Quebec: half a century of concrete action targeting the growth of Quebec's regions and businesses.
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