News
Helicopter purchase lands important work in Canada

Sept. 24, 2009, Burlington, Ont. – The Honourable Tony Clement,
Minister of Industry, today announced that The Boeing Company has
signed an agreement with L-3 Wescam Inc. to manufacture mechanical
parts in support of Boeing CH-147 Chinook cargo helicopters, including
15 purchased by the Government of Canada for the Canadian Forces.

The Boeing CH-147 Chinook aircraft is part of the government's
implementation of its Canada First Defence Strategy. Due to Industrial
Regional Benefits (IRB) requirements in the $1.2-billion CH-147
acquisition contract previously announced, Boeing will be re-investing
at least the full contract amount into the Canadian economy, creating
jobs and stimulating regional markets.

"L-3 Wescam's work in the Chinook demonstrates how Canada's IRB Policy
can work with the Canada First Defence Strategy to draw significant
investments to our economy and create high-quality local jobs," said
Minister Clement. "The projects from this contract will help advance
the capabilities of Canadian aerospace companies."

At the same event, the Minister also announced a series of improvements
to Canada's IRB Policy and some examples of how aerospace companies
across Canada benefit from it.

The improvements to the IRB Policy will promote Canadian firms'
participation in global value chains while continuing to generate
maximum benefits to Canadian industry. They will attract substantive
investments, global product mandates and world-leading research and
development activities to Canada. The changes will also help focus IRB
proposals on high-skill, high-technology areas with support for small
and medium-sized businesses.

"Today's announcement is one of many examples of how the IRB Policy
will improve Canadian firms' access to the global value chains of
high-value products being sold in global markets," said Minister
Clement. "Improvements to this policy will provide Canada with the
opportunity for additional investments in our aerospace and defence
sector."

The IRB Policy is an important element of the Government of Canada's
overall procurement process for major defence and security purchases.
It enables the government to leverage major investments in military
equipment to encourage long-term industrial development and significant
economic activity here in Canada. These improvements are being made in
recognition of ongoing changes and opportunities resulting from the
increased volume of defence procurement from the Canada First Defence
Strategy.

Businesses from all regions of Canada are benefiting from this major
Canada First procurement and are expected to benefit further from the
government's other aerospace initiatives.