News of the layoffs at Bombardier dominated question period at the National Assembly Wednesday, where Premier Philippe Couillard faced fierce criticism from the opposition.

Of the 7000 job cuts announced at Bombardier, 2,400 of them will be in Quebec.



Just months after the Quebec government's decision to invest $1 billion to give the company's struggling C-Series program a boost, the job cuts put the premier in the hot seat.

“I ask the premier to protect all the jobs here in Quebec,” proclaimed PQ leader Pierre Karl Peladeau.



“It’s a sad day to learn that 2,400 Quebecois Bombardier workers will lose their jobs,” added CAQ leader Francois Legault.



Couillard defended the investment.

“Where we invested is the sector of Bombardier that is growing. The C-Series is the most innovative part of the company,” he said, also predicting better days ahead, with Air Canada leading the way, announcing Wednesday it would purchase 45 planes from the C-Series line, with an option to purchase up to 30 more.

“This order from Air Canada is only the start. I think we're going to have a big chain reaction of other companies ordering the C-Series,” said Couillard.

The opposition argued the deal the government signed with Bombardier was missing a key clause: one that would guarantee the protection of jobs in Quebec.

“Why should public money subsidize a company that will reduce employment? I guess that the deal needs to be renegotiated,” said Peladeau.

Meanwhile, the premier is pushing for help from the feds.

“There is no way -- no way -- that the federal government should not invest in Bombardier, in the C-Series. If the auto industry has been supported by taxpayer money, which is fine, then the aeronautical industry of Montreal needs also to be supported,” he said.

Ottawa is mulling it over.

“The government of Canada is doing its due diligence, looking at the business case that has been put forward by Bombardier,” said Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau.



The PQ is urging Couillard to push harder and personally call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pressure Ottawa to pitch in.