West Island businesses receive financial boost from province

Funds finance export, R&D initiatives in handful of Liberal stronghold ridings

The Quebec government is giving several West Island companies a financial boost. A total of $443,103 has been distributed to help finance four export and 10 research and development initiatives. The money will help absorb export costs, patent costs and salaries for new hires, among other expenses. With monies from the companies as well as the government grants, the combined investment for the 14 projects will top $1.4 million.

All the businesses are located in the West Island ridings of Marquette, Jacques-Cartier and Robert-Baldwin — all Liberal strongholds.

Deputy speaker for the National Assembly François Ouimet is the MNA for Marquette, Minister responsible for Native Affairs Geoffrey Kelley is MNA for JacquesCartier and Finance Minister Carlos Leitão is MNA for Robert Baldwin.

Minister responsible for the Montreal region Martin Coiteux is the MNA for Nelligan. Coiteux is also Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy Minister and Public Security Minister.

The funds come from a trio of government programs designed to help companies position themselves on the international marketplace, protect their intellectual property and create innovative technology.

Kelley, Leitão and Ouimet made the announcement earlier this month, on behalf of deputy premier and MNA for St-Henri-SteAnne Dominique Anglade, who is minister of economy, science and innovation as well as the minister responsible for digital strategy.

Leitão singled out I-MED Pharma in Dollard-des- Ormeaux as an example of a business which will, with the help of a total of $70,000 in government grants, have the leverage to establish an international presence.

I-MED Pharma develops and distributes medical and surgical eye-care products that help ophthalmologists and optometrists diagnose and treat conditions such as dry-eye syndrome. I-MED Pharma products also serve the animalhealth industry.

Five of the companies getting a financial boost are from the Jacques-Cartier riding.

Kelley said the international presence of businesses in his riding is a source of pride and that the government programs helping them out, “will certainly have a significant impact on the economy of the Montreal region and all of Quebec.”

One of the five businesses in the Jacques-Cartier riding is Elran Furniture in Pointe-Claire. It received $30,000 to help defray the costs of increasing its international exposure. Elran designs and manufactures reclining furniture.

Ouimet said a strong economy relies on businesses’ commitment to innovation and to the expansion of export initiatives.

“It is essential for our businesses to conquer new markets and to develop innovative technologies which will keep them competitive in these markets,” Ouimet said.

Five of the businesses are located in the Marquette riding, including Orthogone Technologies, which received $23,225 for research and development and patent protection.

The Dorval-based company is a specialist in software design, testing and implementation and hardware design.