Government invests in Canadian defence ecosystem across the country

In the ever-evolving global threat landscape, Canada must take action to strengthen its domestic capabilities to defend our interests, secure our sovereignty and shape our future. As we continue to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), we are taking bold actions to strengthen Canada’s defence industry, and build the foundations to foster a more resilient and enduring defence industrial base to better meet the needs of the CAF.

In order to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, we are making targeted regional investments to expand Canada’s defence industrial capacity–from coast to coast to coast. These initial investments will drive research and innovation, strengthen domestic supply chains, grow critical resource stockpiles, and improve access to funds for Canadian small- and medium-sized defence businesses.

As an early move, the Government will be investing $357.7 million to establish the new Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII). This is one of the first steps the government is making to ensure the forthcoming defence industrial strategy will take root and give rise to the kinds of jobs and industries that will protect our economy, power the Canadian Armed Forces and assert our sovereignty.

Through existing programs, expertise and on-the-ground presence, the Regional Development Agencies will be supporting the growth of the defence industrial ecosystem, strengthening the relationship between government and industry while also driving innovation, investment, good-paying jobs and economic growth for all Canadians.

Growing our defence industrial capacity across every region of our country is how we build a strong Canada.