Canadian taxpayers must "rally around" Northvolt, the Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer, despite significant setbacks, including confirmed job cuts at its Swedish operations, said Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Blacklock's Reporter says his comments came following Northvolt’s announcement of 1,600 layoffs, which the company attributed to "headwinds in the automotive market."“We have to rally around them and help them,” Champagne emphasized to reporters, expressing his hope for Northvolt’s long-term success. “I hope we all want them to be successful.”Champagne drew comparisons to other industry giants like Tesla, which took 17 years to turn a profit. “Look at Uber, how long it took,” he added, stressing that challenges are inevitable for groundbreaking projects.“What’s important is we managed to get Québec into the automobile industry,” Champagne said, calling it a "big gain" for Canada. “Now are you telling me there can’t be adjustments? You’re going from a technology that we’ve been doing for 100 years and now we’re looking at the next 100 years.”In response to concerns about how the Swedish layoffs might affect Northvolt’s Canadian project, Champagne downplayed the impact, stating, “It concerns Sweden.” He reassured that such hurdles are expected in long-term ventures, citing the 10- to 50-year timelines investors and managers typically consider.Northvolt has been a subject of controversy beyond the layoffs. The Department of Fisheries raised concerns last December that effluent from the company’s planned Saint-Basile-le-Grand plant could violate the Fisheries Act. According to a briefing note, the project’s water intake and discharge pipes would span an area of 171 hectares, impacting fish and their habitat.Despite the challenges, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $1.34 billion in federal subsidies last year for the Northvolt factory, set to begin production in 2026. The government touted the facility as producing “the world’s cleanest batteries,” with the Prime Minister’s Office calling it a win for workers, communities, and the environment.
