Thunder Bay’s Bombardier Facility Scores Big
Metrolinx and Bombardier sign contract for purchase of
Light Rail Vehicles
McGuinty Government Helps Secure Jobs for the Future
THUNDER BAY, ON – Residents of Thunder Bay and area now have a brighter future thanks to a contract signed between Metrolinx and Bombardier.
Funded by the province, this contract is worth $770 million to build 182 light rail transit vehicles (LRVs) with an option to purchase up to 118 additional vehicles.
Part of the deal with Bombardier includes a 25 per cent Canadian content requirement to make sure manufacturing jobs stay in Canada and keep people working. Final assembly of the vehicles will be done at the Bombardier facility in Thunder Bay.
This contract will create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs across the province.
This investment builds on the $1.22 billion contract with Bombardier to build Toronto’s next generation streetcars, which included roughly $400 million of provincial funding, and a $700 million contract between Bombardier and the TTC that as supplemented by $200 million of provincial funding.
Since 2003, the Ontario Government has invested over $9.3 billion in public transit.
QUOTES
“Today’s announcement is more great news for our local Bombardier plant, for Thunder Bay, and for Northwestern Ontario. The commitment of our Government to mass transit in Ontario continues to provide huge economic benefit to our city and region.”
– Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan
“This is great news! Securing manufacturing contracts is tremendously important for Ontario. This investment will create long term employment for hundreds of Bombardier workers which will contribute to the growing vitality of the Thunder Bay economy.”
– Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North
