Feds invest in Winnipeg aerospace R+D, advanced manufacturing

The Federal Government has invested $10 million towards encouraging the global competitiveness of Canada’s aerospace industry, ensuring the creation of well-paying middle class jobs and targeting skills development. 

These funds will expand the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training (CATT) and create a new space at Red River College (RRC) Notre Dame Campus in Winnipeg, dubbed the Smart Factory.

“The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring manufacturing and aerospace sectors remain a source of well-paying jobs in Manitoba. By expanding the technological capabilities at Red River College, we are helping to align the needs of industry with the expertise of post-secondary institutions,” says Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).

The Government of Canada partnered with the RRC ($1.2 million) and StandardAero ($4.5 million) for a total investment of over $15 million.

The Smart Factory will connect aerospace and other manufacturing organizations with specialized equipment and new technology to support advanced manufacturing processes. This partnership will help students develop the skills to implement new and innovative technologies and prepare them for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

“Manitoba’s aerospace sector is globally-competitive and a significant part of our province’s economy, producing and selling products and services valued in excess of $1.6 billion per year,” says Cliff Cullen, Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade for the Province of Manitoba. “We continue to support the sector’s development of a highly skilled workforce and are pleased to have identified this project as a priority in building the next generation of advanced manufacturing expertise here in Manitoba.”

The CATT is an industrial campus co-located at StandardAero, a Winnipeg-based aerospace company, where new processes and materials can be tested without interrupting production flow. It encourages resource-sharing and the use of emerging technologies that will help the aerospace industry grow and create well-paying middle class jobs for Canadians.

“These new facilities will put our students and industry partners in aerospace and manufacturing at the forefront of research and training,” adds Paul Vogt, president and CEO, Red River College. “This is a very strategic investment on the part of the Government of Canada that will help Red River College continue to develop Manitoba-grown industry leaders and innovations.”