Ottawa's $164.8-million in loans to Rio Tinto draws criticism and defence

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the loans last Friday, through the Strategic Response Fund, for upgrades at four Rio Tinto facilities in Quebec's Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. The projects total $818 million.

A researcher at the IRIS institute says Rio Tinto, with $10 billion in profit last year, could have paid itself. The head of the Aluminium Association of Canada says the aid is not out of proportion.

Ottawa says the projects should maintain about 6,000 full-time jobs in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. The Alouette smelter, partly owned by Rio Tinto, received $28.5 million.