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LONGUEUIL, Que. — The federal economic development minister says he is continuing to examine the request for financial aid from struggling aerospace giant Bombardier Inc.

Navdeep Bains spoke to reporters near Montreal Thursday and said there isn’t a set timetable for a final decision.

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Bombardier Inc. CEO Alain Bellemare asked Ottawa for money late last year.

The request came as the Quebec government pledged $1.3 billion in October to help Bombardier complete the CSeries aircraft line.

Neither party has indicated how much Bombardier is asking of Ottawa, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he would need to see a solid business plan before injecting federal cash.

Bains says the federal government is well aware of the importance of the aerospace sector — $29 billion to the Canadian economy as well as 180,000 jobs, including about 40,000 centred in the Greater Montreal Area.

But Bains reiterated Thursday the final decision will have to be one that best respects taxpayers.