An unnamed government source said the German automaker’s battery-plant site search is now focused on Ontario. (La Presse)

Talking point: Quebec has had a banner year in the battery business, attracting several suppliers to open plants. But the concentration of investments in other automakers in southwestern Ontario reportedly swayed VW. The federal lobbyist registry suggests the company is interested in manufacturing and “raw material supply,” as well as tapping into the government’s flagship Strategic Innovation Fund and other potential financial incentives, though it does not yet list any lobbying activity. VW has dubbed Canada a “logical” choice for its first North American battery plant, but the automaker, which does its assembly in Tennessee, has said it is still considering other options.