It is my privilege to welcome guests from across Canada and around the world to CANSEC. Since 1998, CANSEC has been a foundational event for the defence and security industry to showcase cutting-edge technology.

I also thank everyone at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) for your leadership in support of Canada’s defence and security industry and for organizing this year’s trade show.

Attending CANSEC is a fitting way to begin my time as Minister of National Defence because the Government is re-imagining how we can work with the defence industry to deliver for the Canadian Armed Forces and the security of Canadians.

Our government is taking decisive action to rebuild Canada’s defence capacity, rearm the Canadian Armed Forces, and invest in the Canadian defence industry. This effort serves a dual purpose: it strengthens our national security while building a more resilient, competitive defence industry that supports economic growth across the country.

We will build on the work from Our North, Strong and Free and our 2022 NORAD Modernization Plan. These projects contribute to a robust military that defends Canadian values, security, and sovereignty from new threats. They strengthen Canada’s defence in the Arctic and North, better protect our continent, and enable us to carry out more operations abroad with Allies and partners.

Building on the momentum of Canada’s defence policy and subsequent commitments, our investments will nearly triple our defence spending by 2030 compared to 2014 levels. To meet the evolving security landscape, our government will accelerate this funding—putting Canada firmly on track to exceed NATO’s defence spending target.

This work cannot be done alone, it requires strong partnerships between the government and the defence industry. The past engagements between National Defence and industry partners brought to light your concerns and highlighted friction points in how we do business. These conversations will continue and will inform a Defence Industrial Strategy for Canada that will put your insights into action.

Investing in defence is about more than strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces—it’s also an investment in Canada’s economic future. These commitments support skilled, dependable jobs and drive growth in communities across the country. By prioritizing Canadian talent, innovation, and materials, we’re building a stronger economy and a more resilient industrial base. The River-Class Destroyer project alone is expected to sustain over 5,000 jobs over the next 15 years, many of them in Halifax, Nova Scotia. To further boost Canadian industry, our government is committed to sourcing Canadian-made steel, aluminum, and critical minerals whenever possible.

In the coming months we will be making transformative investments to provide our Armed Forces with the tools that they need to defend Canada—investments that will bring economic benefits to every corner of the country. We need the Canadian defence industry to make that happen. Together, we’ll build a secure, resilient industrial base that supports long-term defence goals.

My sincere thanks to all of you for your steadfast support of our people in the Canadian Armed Forces. I stand ready to work together in growing Canada’s defence industrial base, so that CAF members have the tools that they need to keep Canada safe.