“Manitoba’s aerospace sector is world-class,” said Premier Pallister following the meeting.  “We have the largest aerospace presence in Western Canada, employing more than 5,400 Manitobans in high-value and high-skilled jobs.  Our province and our partners in aerospace and advanced manufacturing are poised to benefit from the development of a Factory of the Future here in Manitoba.  But in order for those benefits to be realized, this facility needs to move from discussion to construction in the very near future.”

The roundtable representatives were from Manitoba Aerospace Association, Composites Innovation Centre, Winnipeg Airports Authority, WestCaRD, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Manitoba and Winnipeg chambers of commerce as well as manufacturers Boeing Canada, Precision ADM, StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace.  Participants representing the Manitoba government were Premier Brian Pallister, Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson and Growth Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen.

Progress on the NRC Factory of the Future is critical to the continued strength and future economic development of our aerospace and manufacturing sectors and the highly skilled people they employ,“Progress on the NRC Factory of the Future is critical to the continued strength and future economic development of our aerospace and manufacturing sectors and the highly skilled people they employ,” said Bob Hastings, CEO, WestCaRD.  “Partners in industry and government are coming together to offer support for this project and to express our desire to see progress that will benefit these sectors and the economy of Manitoba.”

According to the NRC, the Factory of the Future program is designed to support technology advancement in Canadian manufacturing by giving Canadian companies access to state-of-the art technology, NRC expertise and support in composites and biocomposites manufacturing, design and simulation, information and communication technologies, processes and systems.

The Winnipeg facility was announced by the federal government in June 2015.  Additional facilities have been announced and are progressing as part of the NRC’s Factory of the Future program in Montreal/Boucherville, Ottawa and London.
​
“Significant efforts and investments have been made by governments and industry in the Manitoba aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries,” said Stefanson.  “Industry and government are united in the importance of this project and the sensitive nature of its construction timeline and we urge the NRC and the federal government to move quickly on the construction of this facility.”