Investing in Rio Tinto’s industrial facilities and Aluminerie Alouette’s smelting operations will strengthen the competitiveness of Canada’s aluminum sector
October 23, 2026 – La Baie, Quebec
Canada’s aluminum and critical minerals sector is a strategic industrial asset that supports thousands of high-quality jobs and underpins key industries including aluminum extrusion, defence, aerospace, automotive and infrastructure. Canada has everything it needs here at home to build a strong Canadian economy, but as tariffs threaten Canadian industry, we are investing to strengthen our industrial base, protect Canadian jobs and support long-term economic resilience.
To that end, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced a $193.3 million investment under the Strategic Response Fund to strengthen Canada’s aluminum industry.
The first investment is $164.8 million toward Rio Tinto’s $818.5 million projects to strengthen and decarbonize the company’s aluminum value chain in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The projects will enhance the production capacity and efficiency of regional operations.
This includes the construction of a new billet casting centre at the Alma smelter to support the production of value-added aluminum products, as well as the modernization of the anode baking furnaces at the Grande-Baie smelter through major infrastructure upgrades and equipment refurbishment to improve reliability, productivity and long-term competitiveness.
The second investment of $28.5 million will go toward Aluminerie Alouette’s $135 million project to modernize and optimize its electrolysis operations. These technological improvements will directly target energy performance, industrial competitiveness and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By investing in transformational, emissions-reducing projects like Alouette’s, we are increasing Canada’s global competitiveness in the aluminum sector.
Together, these projects are expected to maintain approximately 6,000 full-time, well-paying jobs across Quebec and Canada, support 65 co-op student placements and strengthen collaborations with Canadian research institutions, post-secondary institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
As global tariffs put pressure on Canadian industries and reshape international trade dynamics, the Government of Canada is investing in our critical mineral resources, modernizing the aluminum supply chain and protecting well-paying Canadian jobs.
Continue at Government of Canada
—
