Quebec auditor criticizes battery sector spending
Quebec battery industry support drew scrutiny after billions went to firms with weak planning See why the auditor general says the province approved aid without clear goals or timelines
Quebec’s auditor general says the provincial government did a poor job planning more than $2.2 billion in public support for battery companies.
A report released by auditor Christine Roy found that the Coalition Avenir Québec government approved aid for 11 batterysector firms without clear goals or timelines. As of Sept. 30, 2025, about $1.9 billion had already been paid out.
The audit also found that four of the companies had filed for creditor protection, while two others had paused or abandoned their projects. The review included firms such as Lion Electric and Northvolt, whose Swedish parent company went bankrupt in March 2025.