Horne Smelter: CAQ won’t put up money for now

The Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Que.

The CAQ won’t be pulling out the chequebook for the Horne Smelter for now. That was the message from the Legault government on Wednesday in response to threats to close the smelter located in Rouyn-Noranda.

Multinational Glencore needs to invest $300 million to comply with new arsenic in air standards, but is asking the government for funds to share the risk.

However, during a news scrum on Wednesday morning, Economy Minister Jean Boulet referred to Glencore’s negotiating strategies.

According to him, for the time being, the government won’t be putting money on the table.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 4, 2026.