No mega-battery factory of 3,000 workers in England, no indirect jobs of 5,000 workers either, no cell factory on Quebec soil… the young British firm Britishvolt for which the former Prime Minister worked Philippe Couillard is bankrupt.
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“It is disappointing that the Company has not been able to realize its ambitions and secure the equity financing necessary to continue,” the Journal Dan Hurd, co-administrator and partner at EY-Parthenon, who is now handling the file.
“Our priorities as joint administrators now are to protect the interests of the company’s creditors, explore options to sell the business and assets, and support affected employees,” he added.
Seeking public funds
In April 2021, The newspaper reported that the former Prime Minister, Philippe Couillard, had registered as lobbyist for public funds for a battery cell factory ici.
In interview at Journalafterwards, the former number 1 of Quebec said that it was “exceedingly satisfying to see that a foreigner sees in us an ideal breeding ground”.
Things were more difficult than expected for Britishvolt, however, which managed to raise barely a tenth of the sum needed for its English mega-factory, according to The echoes.
The newspaper failed to reach Philippe Couillard to find out if he has other projects in mind in the battery sector dear to the Legault government.