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Industry Minister Mélanie Joly emphasized the importance of reducing Canada's reliance on the United States in the aluminum sector during a speech in La Baie, Quebec. The minister highlighted a new federal investment of over $193 million for projects at four Rio Tinto facilities in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and the Alouette aluminum smelter in Sept-Îles, Quebec.

Joly stressed that aluminum is not just an economic driver but also a strategic industry for Canada's sovereignty, as most of the country's aluminum is processed in the United States, leading to inflated costs due to tariffs. The Canadian government has imposed a 50% tariff on processed aluminum from the United States since September 8, 2025, resulting in a total surcharge of 100%.

Joly pointed out that this tariff creates a double price increase for aluminum products and aims to strengthen the Canadian aluminum supply chain. She also stated that the government wants to build rolling mills in Canada to produce aluminum cans, aircraft parts, and aerospace components domestically. The minister emphasized that economic sovereignty is achieved through building, not just proclaiming, and that Ottawa is open to working with entrepreneurs and offering procurement contracts for key components in the aerospace sector to create a business model that supports rolling mills.