Prime Minister announces support for New Green Technology in the Haute Gaspésie Region

October 14, 2010

SAINTE-ANNE-DES-MONTS, QUEBEC – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Government of Canada will provide support for a new solar panel plant in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts that will generate local employment and grow Canada’s clean energy sector.
 
“Our Government is committed to supporting our industries and creating jobs,” said the Prime Minister.  “The support announced today will help create exciting new manufacturing opportunities in Haute Gaspésie, generating employment and economic growth.  It also further demonstrates our Government’s commitment to developing clean energy technologies.”
 
The investment announced today will enable Montreal-based Centennial Solar Inc. to purchase equipment for a new manufacturing plant in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts which will generate 40 local jobs over a three year period.  This second plant will allow the company to double its annual production and to better position itself in international markets.
 
Support is being provided through the Temporary Initiative for the Strengthening of Quebec's Forest Economies (TISQFE), a diversification and support initiative, managed by Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec, designed to help address the issues and challenges facing regions that are heavily reliant on the forest sector.
 
Centennial Solar is a Canadian company based in Montreal that specializes in custom made photo-voltaic solar panels.  It currently exports to 17 countries.
 
 

Backgrounder

CENTENNIAL SOLAR INC.

The Government is committed to helping communities build the job and industries of the future, and investing in clean energy technologies.
 
In keeping with these goals, the Government is providing Montreal-based Centennial Solar Inc. with a repayable loan of up to $1 million to build a second solar panel manufacturing plant in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.
 
The new plant will create 40 local jobs, help Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and the surrounding region to diversify its manufacturing base, boost the company’s production capacity from 9 to 19 megawatts and help the company and the region become more globally competitive in the rapidly expanding environmental technology sector.