Bombardier - More good news for Quebec

golden hawk · Post by **golden hawk** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:58 am

Bombardier plans to build new jets in Montreal
CTV.ca News Staff

Bombardier, flying high on fresh promises of government aid, has announced plans to assemble its new series of mid-sized jets in Montreal.

"The province of Quebec was selected as the final assembly site location because of the Canadian and Quebec governments' competitive partnership offers, as well as the overall favourable economic and manufacturing context,'' Bombardier said in a statement Friday.

The company's plants in Toronto, Northern Ireland and New Mexico had all, at one time, been in competition for the job.

The announcement came the same day Ottawa said it is chipping in another $350 million to get Bombardier's new family of regional jets out of development and into the sky.

The money, described as a "repayable contribution,'' is conditional on the Montreal-based company building the planes.

The Quebec government also announced a $110-million contribution, and the British government made its own offer of up to $420 million.

When Bombardier gives the go-ahead to the building the planes, the company's plant in Belfast, Northern Ireland will design and manufacture their wings, engine nacelles and composite tails.

Final assembly of the 100-110 seat passenger jets will take place at the company's Montreal plant.

There is still no guarantee the CSeries jet will ever fly, however.

Bombardier's board of directors gave the go-ahead to develop and sell the jets, but so far, the company has not announced a single order.

Final approval to build the plane remains conditional on a critical mass of between 50-100 orders, as well as deals with suppliers and a company to build the plane's power source.

In March, word of government funding had Bombardier's chief rival in the regional jet business, Brazil-based Embraer, crying foul. The company has threatened that if Bombardier takes subsidies to develop the CSeries as planned, it would press for action at the World Trade Organization.

That same month, Bombardier Aerospace employees signed a new labour agreement aimed at cutting production costs.

According to documents obtained by The Canadian Press, Ottawa has already spent approximately $1-billion on research and development support for Bombardier since 1972. The same documents show only $275-million of that money has been repaid.

The total cost of the jet's development, minus an engine, has been pegged at $2 billion US. Bombardier has said it expects to share that tab equally with governments and suppliers.

The funding announced Friday is conditional on the Montreal-based company actually building the jets.

With files from The Canadian Press

hz2p · Post by **hz2p** » Fri May 13, 2005 7:09 am

The money just never stops flowing to Quebec, does it?

It sure would be terrible if Quebec separated, and then the rest of us wouldn't have to pay them any more, hm?

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:15 am

hz2p wrote:The money just never stops flowing to Quebec, does it?

It sure would be terrible if Quebec separated, and then the rest of us wouldn't have to pay them any more, hm?

You're right, the rest of Canada should get the money!! Especially Sask, they'll build a wing like no other province!

dxprguy · Post by **dxprguy** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:57 am

Election time must be comin!... and sadly southern Ontario will vote for the filthy, stealing, drunk, fat gut, trailer park Liberals again?

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:10 am

Which wealthy Lawyer from Quebec is going to win this time????

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:20 pm

Weeeellllll, there are supposed to be 6500 jobs generated by this jet, only 2500 of which will be in Quebec. So that outfit in Vancouver that makes the composite stuff for RJs will have to hire more, and Belfast will have to hire more, and perhaps Mitsubishi, which builds wings for some Bombardier a/c will have to hire more, and Doughty in Quebec will hire more, and CAE will have to build new sims, so all the dosh won't just go to Quebec, but lots will...

Somebody has to build the engines, too, and the avionics...

Why build it in Toronto where the CAW wouldn't give wage concessions? Why build it in Saskatchewan where there is no aerospace industry?

And on and on...

It is a loan, too, which means it will have to be repaid. That is, if the government doesn't fall and kibosh the dough.

I am in Montreal, by the way, so I do not have clean hands.

just another pilot · Post by **just another pilot** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:31 pm

Hmmm..I wonder who they will get to advertise?

Yoyo. I'm not sure about Saskathewan, but Manitoba was able to service the CF-18 cheaper than a Queeebec monop...I mean company.

... · Post by **...** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:09 pm

dxprguy wrote:Election time must be comin!... and sadly southern Ontario will vote for the filthy, stealing, drunk, fat gut, trailer park Liberals again?

Or you can vote for this guy...he looks like a born leader.

You folks out west are fabulous. Remember Joe Clarke back in 80-81? Nice job. Didn't he last like 30 days in office?

If I were forced to hire westener clowns into YOW...I'd "giver" all with 'Deaner & Terry'

Giver Deaner!!!

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:15 pm

Besides, nobody else in Canada wants to build jets, and some of you lot may have grown up enough to fly one, one day. Better than letting the Brazillians build 'em all with their subsidies...

Oh f*ck it

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:48 pm

Yoyoma wrote:
hz2p wrote:The money just never stops flowing to Quebec, does it?

It sure would be terrible if Quebec separated, and then the rest of us wouldn't have to pay them any more, hm?
You're right, the rest of Canada should get the money!! Especially Sask, they'll build a wing like no other province!

Shows what you know, Yo Yo Ma! Haven't you heard of the McCoy Aerofoil?

That was developed in Saskatchewan. Wind tunnel testing to begin next week. Apparently, an SK engineer was inspired after reading the three little pigs.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Sat May 14, 2005 6:56 am

This is another give away of your tax dollars to a corprate welfare bum.

Bombardier has recieved more than $1 billion in documented federal government "loans" in the last 30 years and has paid back only 27.5%. Anyone care to bet how much other money has been given to them under the table? How much has found it's way back into Liberal party coffers? How much flowed straight through into the pockets of family members and company insiders?

This has Liberal "stink" all over it. They haven't been able or willing to pay back previous loans, so what is the economic sense of throwing more money at them?

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat May 14, 2005 7:26 am

I have got to agree with you, I really preferred giving my money to the gun registry. I felt like I got waaayyy more value for that dosh.

Then I wouldn't have had to waste my time getting a CL-604 endorsement, could have just gotten a Gulfstream job. This country would be a lot better off without CL-604s, GEXs, oh, and those rotten little RJs. And Dash-8s too. Probably more room in the sky for Navajos. I'm sure we could just buy Embraers and Saabs and then Bombardier should just make snow-doos - other countries seem to be more interested in aerospace than Canada, why not just let them have the high-tech jobs? We can make more money and employ more people growing marijuana anyway, and we wouldn't have to mess about with taxation and benefits, or pay for health care and the military, just let the Hell's Angels take care of their own.

Maybe Bombardier should just make chips and snacks for the stoners - a natural fit with BOMB'D, eh?

Rubberbiscuit · Post by **Rubberbiscuit** » Sat May 14, 2005 8:00 am

If I am not mistaken.... that could be cancelled if a new government is voted in? Like that long list of crap that JC had planned on dishing out tax dollars for!

I agree with Birddog. They are all losers, that is why I refuse to even vote!

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Sat May 14, 2005 8:03 am

desksgo wrote: Shows what you know, Yo Yo Ma! Haven't you heard of the McCoy Aerofoil?

That was developed in Saskatchewan. Wind tunnel testing to begin next week. Apparently, an SK engineer was inspired after reading the three little pigs.

but seriously, I think having our national a/c manufacturer step up and deliver a product at the 100-liner level is a great thing! Everyone's always bitching about their money their money...Just enjoy it for once and let us kick Boeing and Airbus asses...t.

In no way does this statement reflect Yoyoma's ideology nor any of the parties he serves.

Rubberbiscuit · Post by **Rubberbiscuit** » Sat May 14, 2005 12:22 pm

I just read in the Globe and Mail today that there are challenges against Bombardier from Boeing and Embraer claiming that the government guarantees or loans enjoyed by Bombardier is against Global trade rules!

172pilot · Post by **172pilot** » Mon May 16, 2005 12:01 am

xsbank, you dont build prop up a weak sector of the economy with subsidies. obviously, if a company or sector needs subsidies it can't compete effectively against the competition. if thats the case such as bombardier, then yes, we can and should buy saabs and embraer aircraft and let those countries subsidize aircraft with THEIR taxpayers instead of us subsidizes losing industries. let's use brazilian aircraft if it means the brazilian taxpayers are subsidizing the EMBs. its a win win for us. then we can put our money somewhere more worthwhile. if bombardier can only pay back 27% of the money lent to them it's time to ditch this dog. maybe the canadian government can give taxpayers a reduction in income taxes so we invest OUR money where WE want, not where the government sees fit. everytime we turn the corner, there is more and more state control in this country. scary.