Ottawa commits $193.3 million to Quebec aluminum projects
Federal support will go to Rio Tinto projects in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and an Aluminerie Alouette modernization project.
The federal government announced $193.3 million through the Strategic Response Fund for two aluminum-sector investments in Quebec on October 23.
Rio Tinto is to receive $164.8 million toward projects valued at $818.5 million in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. The work includes a billet casting centre at the Alma smelter and upgrades to anode-baking furnaces at the Grande-Baie smelter.
Aluminerie Alouette is to receive $28.5 million toward a $135-million project to modernize electrolysis operations, with a focus on energy performance, productivity and lower greenhouse-gas emissions.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said the projects are expected to maintain about 6,000 full-time jobs across Quebec and Canada and support 65 co-op placements. Those figures are government projections, not completed outcomes.
Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, news release published October 23, 2026.
Featured image: industrial facility on the St. Lawrence River, by nail ovic via Unsplash. Illustrative stock photo; it does not show the funded facilities.
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