Canadian Companies Statement on the New Defence Industrial Strategy
READ: Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy: Security, Sovereignty and Prosperity
DAVIE
Davie welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of the Defence Industrial Strategy. The policy reflects a clear commitment to developing modern domestic industrial and manufacturing capabilities that are essential to national security, territorial sovereignty, and the country’s economic prosperity.
The strategy’s priorities align closely with Davie’s expertise and ambitions. It focuses on strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base, accelerating military procurement, modernizing maritime capabilities, and safeguarding the Arctic and the nation’s maritime approaches. It also highlights the need for resilient supply chains, continued investment in innovation and advanced technologies, and deeper strategic partnerships with NATO allies.
READ: Davie and Algoma Steel Celebrate Rolling of Canadian Steel for Polar Max Icebreaker
For more than 200 years, Davie has been a firmly established industrial presence in Lévis. We continue to invest significantly in our facilities, workforce and processes to deliver major projects, including the Polar Max, which will directly support Canada’s assertion of sovereignty in the Arctic. Davie is ready to play a central role in carrying out this strategy and in contributing to the growth and modernization of Canada’s defence ecosystem.
CAE
CAE’s statement on Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy The release of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) today marks a foundational step for the country’s defence ecosystem and strengthens the nation’s sovereignty and long-term prosperity.
Its guiding principles – Build. Partner. Buy. – underscore a clear commitment to developing and sustaining domestic capabilities, including the digital and training solutions that enable effective command-andcontrol. They aim to ensure the Canadian Armed Forces will have access to world-class training, operational support, and mission readiness. CAE welcomes this direction and is proud to be a pillar of Canada’s defence industry.
To realize the full potential of this strategy, Canada will need to create the conditions for globally competitive domestic champions. That requires flexibility, openness to new approaches, streamlined processes, and a willingness to move beyond structures and decisions designed for a different era. Enabling industry to invest, scale, and adapt is essential to building resilient capabilities that can serve the Canadian Armed Forces first, while remaining competitive internationally.
READ: CAE awarded $270M contract to deliver Australia’s Future Air Mission Training System
By moving decisively from vision to execution – defining sovereign industrial capabilities, modernizing Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policies, and establishing strategic partnerships with Canadian champions – Canada can turn ambition into tangible results for our Armed Forces and industry partners. CAE stands ready to collaborate with essential stakeholders including government, industry, academia, and Indigenous communities, to transform these commitments into actionable programs that deliver results for Canada and its partners.
As a global partner in training and simulation across air, land, and naval domains, CAE brings industryleading expertise in Integrated Flight Training (IFT), mission rehearsal, and advanced simulation. These capabilities stand among the nation’s most significant contributions to allies worldwide. The organization draws on a global supply chain that includes thousands of suppliers and more than 400 Canadian SMEs. With decades of experience in defence markets, we understand the responsibilities that come with being a national champion, including providing value for money to Canadians and to customers. CAE is committed to strategic partnerships that advance sovereign capabilities, expand exports, and build a robust defence base anchored in Canada and projected globally as a trusted partner. CAE looks forward to working closely with government, the Defence Investment Agency, and industry to operationalize the Defence Industrial Strategy and enable Canada’s defence sector to thrive at home and on the global stage.
Matt Bromberg: “Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy sets a clear course to advance sovereign capability and deliver real outcomes for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a strategic partner to the Government of Canada, CAE stands ready to turn vision into action, accelerating training and mission readiness programs and mobilizing a network of more than 400 SMEs across the defence supply chain. As a global leader, we welcome the recognition of training and simulation, across air, land, and sea, as a Canadian sovereign capability. Our expertise can be one of Canada’s greatest contributions to allies worldwide. We look forward to working with government and industry to scale domestic capacity, grow exports, and ensure the CAF receives world-class capability — faster. This is the moment to turn commitments into results, with speed, discipline, and purpose.”
AIAC
Attributed to Mike Mueller, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC):
“Today’s release of Security, Sovereignty and Prosperity — Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy — is an important milestone for the aerospace and defence sector.
For several years, industry has called for greater clarity, a stronger demand signal and a more strategic approach to procurement. The Strategy provides that direction. It recognizes the role of industry as a partner in building and sustaining Canada’s defence capabilities and strengthening our sovereign industrial base.
READ: MIKE MUELLER – AIAC – CDR ONE-ON-ONE
The focus now must be on disciplined and timely implementation. With accelerated procurement, predictable R&D pathways, stronger supply chains and a modernized export framework, Canada has an opportunity to rebuild industrial capacity, enhance economic security and compete in a rapidly evolving global environment.
Canada’s aerospace industry stands ready to work with government to ensure this Strategy delivers real capability and economic outcomes for Canadians.”
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Attributable to David Pierce, Vice President of Government Relations, Canadian Chamber of Commerce:
“The government’s Defence Industrial Strategy shows it has listened to industry expertise and bet big on Canada. The scale of new funding is unprecedented, but the true measure of success will be how these dollars translate into real operational readiness, modernized equipment and a stronger Canadian Armed Forces. The government’s focus on sourcing military equipment from firms that invest in, employ and reside in Canada will reinforce domestic capacity while ensuring that public investments generate economic growth and skilled jobs across the country.
We also commend the government for recognizing that Canada’s resource sector can supply our allies with 10 of the 12 defence-critical raw minerals that were identified by NATO. By leveraging our abundant natural resources, Canada can help secure supply chains for ourselves and our allies, reduce strategic vulnerabilities and position our country as a reliable partner in an increasingly uncertain world. The Strategy also rightly identifies 10 key sovereign capabilities, many of which dovetail with recommendations by the Canadian Chamber’s Councils including AI, Cyber Security, Critical Minerals, and Life Sciences.
Canadian businesses hold the expertise in world-class advanced technology, cyber security, AI and quantum to deliver this strategy in real terms. To do this, the government must address long-standing issues plaguing our defence procurement system — from contracting times that cause project delays to security clearance challenges — as well as provide a clear sense of the required technology or goods to help more companies participate or bid.
Canadian businesses, including Canadian Chamber members across regions and sectors, are ready to put their expertise, innovation and capital to work to help build the military strength and industrial base that will protect Canada’s sovereignty. We look forward to working with the government on the delivery of this strategy.”
Bombardier
Bombardier welcomes Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy and its focus on strengthening and expanding the domestic industrial base to support the country’s sovereign defence and aerospace capabilities, skilled workforce, and research and development initiatives. As a leading Canadian aerospace manufacturer, Bombardier has a long history of delivering advanced platforms for government and military missions, including for the Government of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces, and looks forward to working closely with the federal government as a trusted partner in achieving the objectives outlined in the strategy.
READ: Bombardier Announces $100 Million Manufacturing Centre in Dorval
Bombardier also remains firmly committed to supporting the operational priorities of NORAD and NATO members and allies through this strategy and beyond. Our proven Challenger and Global families of aircraft serve as reliable, highly capable platforms for critical missions worldwide and will continue to play a central role in supporting defence readiness, interoperability, and shared security objectives.
CADSI
The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) issued the following statement in response to the Government of Canada’s newly unveiled Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS):
“This is an ambitious, landmark strategy for Canada,” said Christyn Cianfarani, President and CEO of CADSI. “The DIS marks a historic turning point. For the first time, we can see a clear, accountable vision for the defence sector, with specific targets to grow and sustain the sovereign industrial capabilities that underpin our national security, economic resilience, and technological leadership.”
The DIS is the culmination of a joint effort to advance an outcomes-driven defence industrial policy – one that aligns procurement, innovation, skills, and sector-wide growth with Canada’s strategic needs. It includes ambitious targets for the industry, a list of sovereign capabilities, a clear commitment to buy Canadian whenever possible, plans for export promotion and expansion, and ties to the new Defence Investment Agency.
“Turning strategy into reality will now come down to execution at scale, scope, and speed,” said Ms. Cianfarani. “The expectations for the public service and Canadian Armed Forces are crystal clear. In partnership with industry, they will need to move beyond existing culture, processes, and experience to get work under contract. While there are undoubtedly challenges ahead, today’s outcome is an example of what’s possible when the public and private sectors listen to each other and work toward the same goals. If we can continue to operate that way, there is plenty of reason for optimism.”
