‘The McInnis cement project has no subsidies. The project is being financed based on the merits of the business, with all debt and equity investors involved doing so on a commercial basis alone.
McInnis will continue to fully support and cooperate with the USTR, supplying comprehensive and transparent information regarding the project’s financial structure.’
McInnis goes on to accuse Lafarge of attempting to stifle competition at a time when market shortages could drive up prices.
The statement concludes: ‘Regardless of Lafarge’s pervasive intervention, our construction in Quebec continues to accelerate. McInnis will successfully build its new plant and terminal network to satisfy future Canadian and US cement needs.’
Lafarge North America ‘applauds the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which confronted Canadian trade officials about the subsidies pledged for the construction of a cement facility in Quebec’.
McInnis Cement has filed its contestation with the Superior court to the motion issued by Lafarge Canada Inc., the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement and Environnement Vert-Plus Inc. against its cement plant project in Port-Daniel–Gascons.
McInnis Cement announces that construction of its new plant will commence in the spring, with financial assistance from the Québec government. The Cement Association of Canada has expressed its anger and disappointment at the news.