(Ottawa) The federal Minister of Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne, describes the new developments to ensure a place for the Davie shipyard in Ottawa’s naval strategy as “great news for the Quebec region”.
Posted at 1:38 p.m.
“It will have significant economic benefits for many because you have to know that we are talking about Davie, but we are talking [aussi] hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses that contribute to this,” he said Wednesday after leaving a Liberal caucus meeting.
In a press release published a little earlier, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) announced the start of negotiations for a framework agreement with the shipyard located in Lévis “in order to [le] confirm as the third strategic partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy”.
The Press reported, in the morning, that the contracts that will go to the Lévis shipyard could exceed 10 billion dollars.
“If the negotiations prove successful, the agreement should be in place by the end of 2022,” said PSPC.
Asked why this development had not occurred earlier, Mr. Champagne did not directly answer the question.
“What makes us watch the Davie today is thanks to the workers, their expertise and their know-how,” he continued.
He added that, as minister, he considers this file to be a question of “sovereignty”, that is to say of maintaining and developing expertise in Canada, including in Quebec.