Pierre Fitzgibbon’s ministry paid nearly $24,000 to the two Montérégie cities that will host the Northvolt battery mega-factory so that elected officials and local officials can travel to Sweden in September.
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The trip, which took place from September 9th to 15th, allowed eleven elected officials and civil servants from Saint-Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville to tour Northvolt’s first megafactory in the town of Skellefteå.
“The Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy has granted financial support of $11,900 to each city,” explains spokesman Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil, explaining that the amounts “allow for the participation of two members from each city was financed”.
“Although it is not necessary to go through a standardized program to pay a grant of less than $50,000 […]The financial support was granted after analysis within the framework of the […] “Program to support economic development projects,” he adds.
McMasterville paid around $30,000 for its six participants, while Saint-Basile-le-Grand has not yet tallied the costs of its five participants.
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As part of a business mission that same week that took him to Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Mr Fitzgibbon also visited Northvolt’s facilities in Skellefteå.
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy at the announcement of the Swedish Northvolt mega-factory in Quebec to produce lithium-ion batteries in Saint-Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville. Montreal, September 28, 2023. PIERRE-PAUL POULIN/LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL/AGENCE QMI Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin
However, its spokesman Mathieu St-Amand assured that the minister and local representatives did not visit Northvolt at the same time.
Recall that Quebec has granted Northvolt a grant of $1.37 billion and has allocated an additional $22.6 million for a temporary road to be used to build the factory.
The mayors of the two municipalities and two municipal councilors from each city took part in the trip. The general directors of urban planning and legal departments from both administrations were also present.
“It was determined that the perspective and expertise of several people were needed to identify the conditions favorable to the creation of this industry,” explains Marie-Josée Bédard, general counsel at McMasterville.
Local management expert Danielle Pilette said the two cities could have limited the number of elected officials in attendance to two instead of three. She still estimates the number of participants to be constant.
“As for the officials, I believe that the presence of the director general as well as the other two directors was essential,” commented the associate professor of the University of Quebec in Montreal.