Canada – Minister Champagne concludes visit to Germany and Belgium

May 16, 2022 | International

Canada working with international partners to help businesses succeed and grow

May 13, 2022 – Brussels, Belgium

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, concluded a visit to Germany and Belgium, where he met with key business and political leaders.

In Germany, Minister Champagne met with industry leaders in key sectors to promote Canada as a reliable, stable and attractive economic partner, as well as a hub of expertise for zero-emission vehicles manufacturing; electric vehicle research; and battery, fuel cell and hydrogen production. In Berlin, he met with the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr. Robert Habeck, as well as senior economic and political advisor to German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Together, they discussed energy security as well as enhancing economic cooperation amid Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

The Minister also attended the G7 Digital Ministers’ meeting in Düsseldorf, where he discussed how to address global challenges related to the development, adoption and use of digital technologies with his international counterparts, including Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.

G7 Digital Ministers also underscored the importance of digital trust and cyber resilience and agreed to facilitate cross-border data transfers, support competitive digital markets and promote the use of electronic transferable records to facilitate international trade. 

“European companies recognize that Canada is one of the best places in the world to do business. This week was an opportunity to make the case for Canada as a competitive investment destination, including in clean technology, automotive and battery supply chains. In Düsseldorf, with my G7 counterparts, we committed to ensuring that everyone can benefit from new digital technologies that drive innovation. I will continue to work tirelessly to attract more investments to Canada that will create well-paying jobs and spur economic growth.”


– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Laurie Bouchard

Senior Manager, Communications

Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

laurie.bouchard@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

media@ised-isde.gc.ca

Canada – Minister Champagne to announce important funding to support the Canadian semiconductor and photonics industries

Feb 26, 2022 | International

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will announce important funding to support the Canadian semiconductor and photonics industries. A media availability will follow the announcement, and members of the media will be invited on a guided tour of the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre.

February 25, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will announce important funding to support the Canadian semiconductor and photonics industries. A media availability will follow the announcement, and members of the media will be invited on a guided tour of the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre.

Date: Monday, February 28, 2022

Time: 12:15PM (ET)

Location:

National Research Council of Canad

1200 Montreal Road

Building M-50

Ottawa, Ontario

Media participation on site

Media outlets wishing to attend the event must confirm their participation with ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca by Monday, February 28, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Media representatives are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the event.

To ensure compliance with local public health guidelines, only one camera person and one photographer will be authorized on site. Media outlets are therefore invited to set up a camera and photography pool.

In accordance with public health guidelines, all guests will be required to sign in and provide their name and phone number for contact tracing. Guests will also be required to wear an NRC-supplied mask at all times when indoors and in shared outdoor spaces.

Media participation by teleconference

Media outlets wishing to take part in the teleconference are asked to contact ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca to receive the dial-in information.

The announcement will be live-streamed on the Canadian Innovation Facebook page.

Laurie Bouchard

Senior Manager, Communications

Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

laurie.bouchard@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

media@ised-isde.gc.ca

Canada – Minister Ng and Minister Champagne meet with Canadian business, automotive sector and labour leaders

Nov 26, 2021 | International

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, met with Canadian business, automotive sector, and labour leaders to discuss advocacy efforts related to the United States’ Buy America policy and proposed tax credits for electric vehicles…

November 25, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, met with Canadian business, automotive sector, and labour leaders to discuss advocacy efforts related to the United States’ Buy America policy and proposed tax credits for electric vehicles.

The ministers met with leaders from the Aluminium Association of Canada, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canadian Steel Producers Association, the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, General Motors Canada, Honda Canada, the Labourers’ International Union of North America, Magna International, Stellantis Canada, Toyota Canada, Unifor, and the United Steelworkers.

The ministers recognized the significant contributions the attendees have made, and continue to make, to advocate on behalf of workers, industry, and people on both sides of the border, and the important role they will play in post-pandemic economic recovery efforts.

During the virtual round table, the ministers reaffirmed the Government of Canada’s continued and significant concern with the discriminatory, protectionist elements of the U.S. tax credits for electric vehicles proposed in the current version of the Build Back Better bill and the impact they would have on the Canadian economy and hundreds of thousands of jobs. They also noted that the tax credits run counter to shared Canada-United States objectives on automotive production, labour, and the environment, as well as U.S. trade obligations under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

They also highlighted Canada’s disappointment with the protectionist Buy America requirements contained in the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The ministers emphasized that Canada expects a reciprocal trading relationship with its trading partners, and will continue to engage the U.S. administration on Buy America provisions that harm jobs and workers on both sides of the shared border.

The ministers committed to continuing advocacy directly with their counterparts, the U.S administration and Congress. The ministers reiterated their commitment to working as Team Canada with Canadian industry and labour and with partners on both sides of the border to enhance the competitiveness of the North American automotive industry, and to advocate for Canadian workers, industry, and people.

Associated links

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden
Minister Ng meets with United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai
Minister Ng meets with United States Trade Representative Tai in Washington
Minister Ng meets with members of U.S. Congress on strengthening Canada-United States trade relations
Canada-United States relations
Road Map for a Renewed United States-Canada Partnership
Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

Alice Hansen

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

613-612-0482

Alice.Hansen@international.gc.ca

Canada – Minister Champagne concludes productive visit to Belgium, France and Germany

Nov 13, 2021 | International

Ottawa, Ontario

Minister pitched opportunities in Canada’s ZEV and AI hubs in meetings with European stakeholders

Today, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, concluded visits to three German cities and to Brussels and Paris, where he met with governmental counterparts and business leaders in key sectors.

Minister Champagne began his trip in Germany, where he met with corporate leaders and stakeholders in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. He promoted Canada as a hub of expertise and talent for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) manufacturing, electric vehicle research and battery, fuel cell and hydrogen production. The Minister highlighted the policies the Government of Canada has put in place, including the Net Zero Accelerator, to support the development of the full supply chain for electric vehicles and clean technologies in Canada, from the mining of critical minerals to the recycling of batteries.

In Brussels, Minister Champagne met with his European Union (EU) counterpart, Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market. Following up on the Canada–EU summit in June 2021, the Minister and the Commissioner discussed ways to deepen trade and scientific ties between Canada and EU member states. The Minister also met with senior representatives of the European Commission to discuss a wide range of areas of cooperation, including industrial policy and the digital economy.

In Paris, Minister Champagne highlighted Canada’s leadership role in the responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI) and in championing international collaboration in this rapidly evolving area of technology. He participated in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Paris Summit, where he met with counterparts from GPAI’s 19 member countries and leading experts in AI. Minister Champagne held a bilateral meeting with Cédric O, France’s Minister of State for the Digital Transition and Electronic Communications, to discuss the handover of GPAI’s chairmanship from Canada to France. During the summit, Minister Champagne highlighted the progress that has been made in GPAI’s first year during Canada’s chairmanship, including examining how AI can be used to address complex global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

Minister Champagne also attended the Paris Peace Forum with French President Emmanuel Macron and a Remembrance Day event at the Canadian embassy in Paris.

Minister Champagne met with Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris to discuss joint priorities, such as the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, digitalization, a way forward on trusted government access, and climate change.

Minister Champagne also met with corporate leaders in Paris to discuss opportunities for partnership and investment in sectors across Canada.

“This week was focused on selling Canada as a competitive investment destination, including in clean technology, automotive and battery supply chains and AI. It was an opportunity to highlight to leaders in government and business that Canada offers a unique value proposition, with its critical natural resources, clean energy, competitive business environment and strong free trade agreement with Europe.”

— The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

German companies are some of the biggest investors and supply chain partners for the Canadian manufacturing sector, and similarly, Canadians are also important clients for German firms. Germany is the 10th-largest foreign investor in Canada, and 5th among European countries, with direct investment valued at $18.2 billion at the end of 2020. Germany is also Canada’s 6th-largest merchandise trading partner, with 2-way merchandise trade totalling $23.7 billion in 2020.

The visit to Belgium signalled the importance of the Canada–EU bilateral relationship and highlighted Canada’s willingness to engage with the EU on common interests relating to the digital economy, science, technology and innovation, and supply chains.

Canada and the EU share strong trade ties: in 2020 the EU was Canada’s 2nd-largest trading partner, with $28.7 billion in goods and $11.3 billion in services exported to the EU, accounting for 5.5% of Canada’s global goods exports and 9.9% of Canada’s global services exports.

Canada and France share particularly robust trade and investment relations. Even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, France has remained Canada’s 9th-largest merchandise trading partner. In 2020, bilateral trade with France totalled $10.2 billion and Canadian exports to France increased by 2% to $3.7 billion. France is also the 12th-largest foreign investor in Canada, with direct investment of $17.7 billion at the end of 2020.

John Power

Senior Manager, Communications and Media Relations

Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

john.power@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

343-291-1777

media@ised-isde.gc.ca