(Richmond) British Columbia’s first share of a multi-billion dollar deal between Ottawa and Boeing Canada to buy military aircraft includes promises of a new training centre focused on Indigenous workers and more research and development from the company’s local office.
The American aviation giant has agreed to spend a total of $61 million in the province, including $13 million for Indigenous-owned COTA Aviation, based in Parksville, B.C., to establish an aerospace manufacturing training centre to train 10 workers a year.
National Defence Minister Bill Blair said the facility will aim to increase the representation and participation of Indigenous people in the aerospace and defence sectors.
“Workers will be trained to operate modern, advanced manufacturing equipment, including robot automation, and COTA will support Indigenous learners with internships at the end of their programs,” he said in the announcement Wednesday at Boeing’s offices in Richmond, B.C.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
National Defence Minister Bill Blair
COTA President and CEO Kyle Kusznieryk said the money would also be used to purchase advanced manufacturing equipment to meet growing demand.
“The vocational training program aims to provide high-impact jobs with minimal barriers. The program will not only enhance our internal capabilities, but will contribute to the broader development of the aerospace workforce,” he said.
The federal government announced last year that it would buy up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon surveillance planes to phase out the Aurora-model planes, which have been in service for more than 40 years.
Consolidated and increased presence in Canada
The more than $10 billion deal comes with a promise from Boeing to deliver $5.4 billion in business and investment to Canada over 10 years, including using domestic suppliers and supporting 3,000 jobs.
Boeing also committed to spending $48 million to boost research and development capacity at its Richmond facility, which the company said was a requirement of the deal to invest in consolidating and expanding its presence in Canada.
Boeing Canada’s new president, Al Meinzinger, who took office in June, said the expansion would increase research and development technology.
“They will provide project management tools and leverage analytics to optimize aircraft maintenance, sustainability and performance for both manned and unmanned aircraft,” he said.
Minister Blair argued that Boeing’s investments would benefit the aerospace industry.
“The investments that Boeing is making here in these facilities will create opportunities for Canadian innovation, for Canadian workers. It will contribute to the Canadian economy,” he said.
“It’s obviously mutually beneficial for Boeing, but there’s a real benefit, I think, for the Canadian workforce and for the aerospace industry here in Canada.”
Blair said Wednesday that further announcements would be made as part of the British Columbia deal.
In April, Boeing announced it would invest $17 million in the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre. Then, in May, it pledged $240 million for a Quebec project aimed at becoming a global hub for developing greener drones and aircraft.