In a press convention after per week of conferences in Europe that included stops with automakers in Germany, federal business minister François-Philippe Champagne says Canada’s proximity to essential minerals, massive markets and clear vitality is drawing numerous new curiosity
François-Philippe Champagne, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Trade, stated his conferences this week in Germany with main auto producers “have made a distinction” in opening their eyes to the alternatives Canada provides to “inexperienced their provide chains” as they ramp up their investments in growing batteries and electrical automobiles for the North American market.
“Every thing begins with a dialog,” Champagne stated, in response to a query from Electrical Autonomy Canada, throughout a press convention hosted in Brussels on Friday, as he wrapped up a go to to Belgium, France and Germany.
“A lot of them need to go carbon impartial at a sure level. All of them have sustainability as a core worth. Due to this fact, the sturdy ESG that we provide right here in Canada is making a distinction.”
Canada’s EV provide chain getting observed
Champagne additionally careworn that the current offers the federal authorities has helped safe for the nationwide EV provide chain — BASF and GM-POSCO in Quebec (cathodes), LG Power Options and Stellantis in Ontario (batteries), in addition to new automobile mandates (EV, PHEV or hybrid) with each home producer — have helped put Canada on these corporations’ radar.
“They’ve observed what we’ve been capable of do in the previous few months,” stated Champagne. “Time will inform, however actually these have been very, very encouraging discussions that I had with the automakers in Germany.”
The first focus of Champagne’s journey was to attend a G7 Digital Ministers assembly in Dusseldorf, however he additionally used the event to proceed the gross sales pitch he’s been giving international automakers (together with Volkswagen), battery producers and demanding mineral producers since he assumed his present portfolio in January 2021.
His EV-related discussions additionally included conferences with political leaders, reminiscent of Germany’s Federal Minister for Financial Affairs and Local weather Motion, Robert Habeck.
Champagne’s efforts to advertise Canada’s EV provide chain potential overseas are additionally being observed at dwelling. Talking off the file, one Ontario business insider lately instructed Electrical Autonomy that “with the brand new minister approaching board, issues have sped up. All these bulletins aren’t unintended. Minister Champagne must be given credit score for actually wanting the wins, he’s extraordinarily hungry.”
Proximity a energy
When requested in the course of the press convention what Canada provides on essential minerals that different producing areas reminiscent of Australia don’t present, Champagne careworn proximity.
“Proximity to the assets,” he started. “And I feel our European companions perceive that we now have unparalleled proximity to assets. Proximity to the market, as a result of as a lot as I really like our Australian associates, clearly you’re speaking about serving the North American market. And the third is proximity to the meeting line.”
Champagne stated this nation’s nearness to important components to serve the U.S. market, coupled with Canada’s comparatively clear grid, resonates with corporations seeking to scale back their total carbon footprint.
“After I talked to them, I stated, ‘I do know the crucial, you need to inexperienced your provide chain, I do know the challenges you might have round essential minerals, I do know you need to increase in North America.’ There’s no higher place to speculate than Canada.”
Collaboration on autonomous automobiles
Champagne additionally stated he mentioned potential collaborations on autonomous automobiles in his assembly with European Fee govt vice-president Margrethe Vestager.
“The European Union has been quite a few initiatives,” stated Champagne. “What I urged to her is, ‘Why don’t we work nearer collectively on that?’
“It might be very fascinating to do an analogous train on the opposite facet of the Atlantic, as a result of what’s going to outline the kind of know-how you discover in these vehicles is requirements and norms.
“What I used to be saying to my European colleagues … is that we have to lead on this planet in setting requirements and norms with regards to these autonomous automobiles. A more in-depth collaboration between Canada and the European Union, I feel, will be certain that the auto sector in Canada can be on the forefront of the electrical revolution, but additionally on the forefront of the technical revolution that you just’re seeing within the vehicles of the twenty first Century.”