Canada Urged to Invest Heavily in Defence Manufacturing

At the recent Manufacturing Matters event in London, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada Director of Manufacturing Heather Damaren emphasized the need for Canadian companies to invest in new technologies and a skilled workforce to remain competitive in an increasingly globalized market.

Damaren's comments come as the federal government pushes to boost Canadian defence manufacturing, offering opportunities for businesses affected by US tariffs to diversify their operations. However, this will require increased investment from Canadian companies to meet compliance requirements and become part of supply chains in the defence sector.

The partnership between GDLS-Canada and the federal government is a significant step towards rebuilding Canada's military through domestic supply chains. The $2 billion investment over four years for 190 armoured vehicles from GDLS-Canada has created opportunities in the defence sector, with more than 600 suppliers required to produce these vehicles.

Damaren stressed that Canadian manufacturers will need to work together and invest in research and development if Canada wants to build more at home. This aligns with a recent economic outlook by Deloitte, which highlights the importance of boosting business confidence and investment for Canada's economy to continue growing next year.