Ontario Gov Hosts Industry Day as Canada’s DIS Program Advances

Supplier engagement led by Hanwha Ocean reflects shift from policy to execution under Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

As Canada advances its Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), early signs of execution are beginning to take shape across the country’s industrial base, particularly in support of major programs such as the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). Canada’s approach to CPSP reflects a broader shift in defence procurement – positioning major programs not only as acquisitions, but as opportunities to build domestic capability, strengthen supply chains, and generate long-term economic value.

Reflecting this direction, the Government of Ontario, through its Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, hosted an Industry and Suppliers Day for Hanwha at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre in Toronto on April 16. The engagement brought together Ontario companies and academic institutions to explore potential involvement in CPSP, with participation from Korean companies, namely Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Systems, and LIG Nex1 Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A). A focused group was invited for direct engagement based on their relevance to submarine design, engineering, production, and long-term sustainment requirements. More than fifty business-to-business meetings were conducted, creating direct pathways for integrating Canadian capabilities into a long-term submarine program.

The Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, attended the event and addressed participants, underscoring the province’s role as a national hub for advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding, defence, high technology, and research and development.

READ: Hanwha Ocean’s Integrated Vision for Next-Generation Submarines

The event in Toronto forms part of a broader, nationwide effort by Hanwha Ocean to build long-term industrial partnerships across Canada. It has been advancing this effort through a growing network of partnerships with Canadian companies, research institutions, and industry stakeholders, aimed at establishing the foundations of a long-term industrial ecosystem. These engagements are being formalized through teaming agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that define practical areas of collaboration across submarine capability, sustainment, and industrial development.

READ: Hanwha Ocean and PCL Construction Sign CPSP Teaming Agreement

To date, Hanwha Ocean has established strategic partnerships with many leading Ontario-based companies. These include Ontario Shipyards and Algoma Steel. Hanwha’s agreement with Ontario Shipyards focuses on strengthening large-scale shipbuilding capability in the province through technical and operational support, alongside workforce development initiatives anchored by a shipyard-based training hub in collaboration with Mohawk College. Hanwha’s MOU with Algoma Steel supports the use of Canadian-produced steel in future naval programs, reinforcing domestic industrial participation and job creation.

READ: Hanwha Ocean to Provide $250 million to Algoma Steel for CPSP Procurement

Hanwha Ocean is supported by its affiliate Hanwha Systems and works in collaboration with LIG Nex1 Defense & Aerospace, combining shipbuilding, combat systems, and advanced defence technologies. Together, these capabilities are being aligned to support CPSP requirements and to enable long-term sustainment, technology transfer, and industrial collaboration in Canada.

Discussions held during the Industry and Suppliers Day further build on this momentum, focusing on expanding supplier participation, deepening industrial collaboration, and identifying pathways to integrate Ontario-based capabilities into long-term sustainment and supply chain build-up. These efforts support the development of sovereign in-service support (ISS) capabilities in Canada and enable long-term industrial capacity aligned with CPSP requirements.

“Ontario is central to the industrial base that will build, sustain and evolve Canada’s future submarine fleet. Today’s event is about listening as much as it is about presenting. We are here to learn about Ontario’s capabilities, to identify where our programs can be strengthened by Canadian innovation, and to begin the long-term relationships that a multi-decade submarine enterprise requires.”

Steve SK Jeong, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Naval Ship International Business, Hanwha Ocean

“Canadian content is not an afterthought in our CPSP approach — it is the foundation. We have made firm commitments on workforce development, technology transfer, and in-country sustainment, and Ontario’s suppliers, researchers, and Indigenous partners will be integral to delivering on those commitments.”
Glenn Copeland, CEO, Hanwha Defence Canada