Christyn Cianfarani, President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, today issued the following statement in response to the Carney government’s announcement on defense spending and investing in Canada’s defense industry:
“For several years, CADSI has been calling on the Canadian government to spend the amounts on defense that it had committed to through NATO, while making bold investments in the defense industrial base that reflect the realities of our global security environment. Today Prime Minister Mark Carney answered that call.
This announcement represents a dramatic course-correction for our nation; one that will hopefully see the government and Canada’s defense industry working more closely together toward a common set of goals. The path will not be smooth, and Canada is starting several paces back from where it should be in relation to our allies. We will need flexibility and fearlessness – the likes of which haven’t been seen in many decades – to turn today’s stated ambitions into reality. It’s time to dig deep.
A rapid increase in defense spending will not translate into economic prosperity unless we are smart about how and where we spend that money. The Prime Minister acknowledged this and explicitly committed to investing every dollar wisely – prioritizing Canadian-made technologies, services, and raw materials wherever possible. His government has also committed to producing a Defence Industrial Strategy in close consultation with the private sector. A mechanism for regular, strategic dialogue between Canadian industry and the government will build trust and help to implement those promises and get the details right.
Moving forward, industry will do all it can to contribute to the plans unveiled today, and will be watching for signed contracts and a fully costed federal budget this fall.”
