UPDATE 1-Trudeau says Bombardier aid needs strong business case

(Adds Trudeau quotes, background on Quebec's plans and
Bombardier's struggles)
By Randall Palmer
OTTAWA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Any federal aid to struggling
Quebec aircraft maker Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO must be based on
a strong business case and not on "emotion, politics or
symbols," Liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on
Tuesday.
The new leader, speaking to a closed meeting of the Canadian
Labour Congress, made clear the government is considering some
form of investment or subsidy but that it is not a given just
because Bombardier is a storied Canadian company.
"There's no question that high value manufacturing is going
to be an extremely important part of Canada for years to come.
Aerospace is a great example of that, as is the auto sector and
others," he said in remarks made available to Reuters.
"How we can best invest and support that kind of
manufacturing needs to be done responsibly and with our eyes
open and not just based on emotion, politics or symbols."
The mainly francophone province of Quebec plays a large role
in Canadian politics, and said on Oct. 29 it would invest $1
billion in Bombardier's CSeries jets in return for a near 50
percent stake in the project. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N12T3Z5C It now wants Ottawa
to help the firm as well.
On Tuesday, Trudeau said: "There has to be a strong business
case and I know you agree with me on that and we're going to
make sure that decision is taken based on what is in the best
interest of Canadians writ large."
He said Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, named to his
portfolio on Nov. 4 when the Liberals took power from the
Conservatives, was weighing in on the Bombardier issue now and
was looking "at what a broad range of experts are recommending."
The CSeries project, designed to produce a line of
single-aisle jets to compete against Boeing (N:BA) Co's BA.N 737 and
Airbus Group's AIR.PA A-319 and A-320, has been delayed for
years and is billions of dollars over budget.
Struggles with the CSeries have left Bombardier saddled with
over $9 billion in debt.
On Nov. 5 Trudeau had said he was neither opening or
shutting the door on aid to Bombardier. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N1302RD