Bombardier suspends operations.

• Position: Transportation; Bombardier Aerospace

Bombardier Aerospace has temporarily suspended production of fire-fighting aircraft at its North Bay assembly plant. A lack of new orders for the $28-million Canadair 415 'Super Scooper' water bombers caused by a general malaise in the aircraft industry is being blamed for the suspension of operations.

"They're not closing the facility," says Dave Butti, chairman of North Bay's Air Base Property Corp. (ABPC) who met with Bombardier management Sept. 5. "Bombardier wants to sell new planes and depending on numbers will restart the line."

The Montreal company, which is undergoing major restructuring under new boss Paul Tellier, employed as many as 50 people at its North Bay...