The Government of Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy has led to an important investment in an Atlantic Canada–based firm, securing jobs and economic growth in the Halifax area.
Bluedrop Training and Simulation will receive significant financial and technical support from The Boeing Company to develop a next-generation rear crew trainer for the Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter program.
The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), took part in the announcement while visiting the Bluedrop Training and Simulation Centre in Halifax.
Boeing is making this investment as part of its Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy obligations, resulting from the Government’s December 2014 purchase of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
Bluedrop and Boeing will create the new rear crew trainer, which they will then be able to market jointly to existing and future CH-47 Chinook buyers. Bluedrop expects this investment will maintain or create as many as 10 jobs and sustain more than 200.
“I could not be more pleased with the outcome of this program and the support we have received from both Industry Canada and Boeing,” said Derrick Rowe, Executive Chairman of Bluedrop Performance Learning. “The Boeing team has been tremendously helpful, and they clearly take a long- term view of their investment in Canadian industry. That is exactly the kind of relationship we were seeking, and the fact that Industry Canada had the Investment Framework program in place along with the Value Proposition could not have been better for us. It is the ideal scenario for Bluedrop.”