QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
Military Procurement
June 10, 2025
Senator Gold, thank you very much for your service to this country.
I’m going to continue with the questions on defence and go a bit further into the Defence Industrial Strategy. As part of the technical brief yesterday, it was announced that $2.6 billion would be focused on developing an industrial strategy, looking at the quick delivery of capabilities, enhanced research and development, as well as things like focusing on critical minerals with the dual purpose of defence and civilian use.
That is all great, but I’m going to go back to the procurement question. We know that one of the hardest things to do is spend that money in the current cold war system of expenditures; however, I will have faith. We were told there is an industrial strategy being developed. I will focus on small Canadian defence industries that are incredibly creative; in fact, most of their goods, whether they be drones or barrels for artillery pieces, go elsewhere.
How will the Department of National Defence include small Canadian industries in this new Defence Industrial Strategy when it normally favours large organizations?
Thank you for your question.
I am not in a position to opine at that granular level, but permit me to draw a connection between this Prime Minister’s plan for repatriating — if I can use that term — investments in defence for the benefit of Canadian industry and the Canadian economy. It is of a piece with the overall approach of this government, which is to ensure that we take advantage of these very tumultuous times to seize on the opportunities to position, develop and transition — pick your verb — our economy so that we create a generation of new and productive careers for our citizens and workers, as well as vital infrastructure all across the country from coast to coast to coast.
Thank you, Senator Gold. I may have misspoken in that it may not be National Defence creating that strategy but it being in partnership with DND.
The one thing we heard from one of the officials is that there will be a common mailbox set up so that small Canadian defence companies can access the procurement discussion phase, at least. Will you please commit to finding that email address for us so that we can share it with the small defence companies that come to us and ask for assistance?
I will make inquiries about that. I have every expectation that the opportunities available to companies of whatever size will be made public so they and we can take advantage of their expertise.
