‘Wake-up call for Canada’: Ottawa announces $19.7M to support Quebec exporters amid U.S. tariff threats

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      “A wake up call for Canada,” says François-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of innovation, science and industry, who met with Montreal industry leaders amid U.S. tariff threats. Tehosterihens Deer reports.

      By News Staff

      Ottawa is earmarking nearly $20 million over three years to support Quebec exporters in the face of looming U.S. trade tariffs.

      The funding for ORPEX – which assists Quebec businesses that do not yet export or that wish to export to new markets – is to help the province’s businesses “export, innovate and diversify their markets to pursue growth.”

      The non-repayable contributions totalling up to $19.7 million cover the next three years – until 2027.

      A large chunk of the funding — $16.1 million – will be used to “boost export activities” while the remaining $3.6 million will be used to “assist and supervise innovation projects by growing SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and to foster support for foreign direct investment.”

      The federal minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the regions of Quebec, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, made the announcement Thursday in Montreal alongside Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Leaders in aluminum, minerals and energy were also present at the table.

      “It is a very uncertain time that we are living in and we want to make sure that we’re listening to solutions and plan for the future of the industry in all the sectors of Quebec,” said Martinez Ferrada.

      “Let’s remember that we’re very competitive in the world. We have AI, we have aeronautics, we have manufacturers here in the region. So I think we have to (remind) ourselves of that, and seeing how can the agency better support the industry and the workers and what’s to come.”

      Federal ministers Soraya Martinez Ferrada and François-Philippe Champagne announce funding to support Quebec exports on Jan. 30, 2025. (Tehosterihens Deer, CityNews)

      The funding announcement comes two days before the Donald Trump administration is expected to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports from Canada – a move that is forecasted to hurt the Canadian economy and force prices to rise sharply.

      “It’s about time that we stand up and we protect our industry that we look at the future with confidence, that we look at the future with ambition,” Champagne said.

      “We have a lot to offer as Canada and we should be very confident in our negotiations.”

      The ministers reminded that the Montreal metropolitan area is 50 per cent of the GDP in Quebec, adding U.S. tariffs would have a big impact on the metropolis.

      “I’m always reminded when I go to Washington always, I hope you’re happy to see me because I represent your biggest customer,” said Champagne. “Canada buys more from the United States than China, Japan, the U.K. and France combined.

      “In a way, you can look at what happened and say this is a wake-up call for Canada.

      “We are the only G7 nation which has a free trade with all the other G7 nations. This is a great position to be in. So we need to have a bit more confidence, be ambitious and at the same time looking at how we can work closely together.”

      Federal ministers Soraya Martinez Ferrada and François-Philippe Champagne announce funding to support Quebec exports on Jan. 30, 2025. (Tehosterihens Deer, CityNews)

      According to ORPEX, it helps businesses understand their capacity to export; develop an export plan; acquire knowledge on developing international markets and more.

      –With files from Tehosterihens Deer

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