SEPT-ÎLES, March 12, 2014 — A number of members of the Trans-Al Network and Côte-Nord (St. Lawrence North Shore) economic players attended a conference lunch held by the Trans-Al Network and Aluminerie Alouette at the Alouette smelter. The event was an opportunity for the participants to find out more about the role and focus areas of the Grappe industrielle de l’aluminium du Québec (GIAQ — Quebec aluminium industry cluster).
GIAQ launched its activities officially in 2013, and its president and CEO, Luc Roby, felt that it was important to describe his organization to the Côte-Nord community. “The Sept-Îles aluminium smelter has been a partner in this adventure from the very start. It is a founding member, and I am proud to be here this morning to present the organization.” To meet its twofold goal of doubling aluminium fabrication in Quebec within ten years and supporting equipment suppliers’ operations, GIAQ has launched a variety of initiatives in areas such as expanding the aluminium industry’s impact and encouraging procurement and business opportunities in infrastructure, vehicle and pedestrian bridges, transportation and other sectors. Over the next two years, GIAQ plans to focus on innovation, training and funding.
The conference lunch was co-hosted by Jean-François Pouliot, executive director of the Trans-Al Network, who took the opportunity to talk about his participation in the world’s largest aluminium trade fair, held in Düsseldorf, Germany. This major annual event, which draws over 20,000 visitors, was a chance for the Trans-Al representative to boost his knowledge of aluminium fabrication and bring home innovative ideas for the Quebec aluminium industry.
André Martel, president and CEO of Aluminerie Alouette, gave a brief overview of his company’s development and job-creation efforts, particularly in the field of aluminium fabrication. According to him, “Over the years Alouette has actively supported more than 300 businesses through financial partnerships, business opportunities, networking, training and coaching. There is no doubt that the primary aluminium industry is currently going through a difficult period, but Alouette is maintaining its commitments and continues to be a major player and a key partner for Quebec companies and suppliers.”
Alouette and job creation
By the end of 2013, thanks to support from Alouette, over 1,550 permanent jobs had been created — an average of more than 200 jobs per year since the start of the company’s job-creation program. “That means that since 2006, Alouette has contributed each year to creating the equivalent of several small businesses in the aluminium fabrication sector, or the annual equivalent of at least one of Quebec’s largest metal manufacturing shops,” André Martel added with conviction.
Alouette is determined to support aluminium fabrication. The Sept-Îles company places priority on using the metal at its plant, enabling the creation of over 140 jobs in the region. By the end of 2013, its job-creation program, launched during the construction of Phase 2 of its facility and renewed during discussions surrounding Phase 3, had generated over 1,550 permanent jobs in the great majority of Quebec regions, exceeding the company’s initial commitment of 1,010 jobs. Road, rail and maritime transportation, construction, automated equipment, recreational vehicles and equipment, transportation electrification, recycling, forming, automotive parts, bleachers, aeronautics and alternative energy are among the many sectors that have benefited from the Alouette program.
The current job-creation agreement, renewed in 2011 during the Phase 3 discussions, is already generating high-quality aluminium industry jobs. Alouette is committed to creating 1,000 additional positions, either in the aluminium fabrication sector (equipment suppliers) or among suppliers of goods and services. Its main partners, Celtis-Capital, Sous-traitance Industrielle Québec (STIQ) and École d’Entrepreneurship de Beauce (EEB), are all actively involved and contribute to the development of eligible businesses. For example, a STIQ program called “Podium Aluminium” created 62 permanent jobs in 2012 and more than 150 positions were submitted to the Quebec government for approval at the end of last year.
