Canada is in the middle of what some are calling a full-on defence renaissance. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ottawa is rolling out a $6.6-billion Defence Industrial Strategy aimed at rebuilding sovereign military muscle and cutting back our long-standing dependence on the U.S. The goal? Hit 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 and bring more of the work and intellectual property home.

A big piece of this is the new Alliance of Canadian Defence Companies, representing 500+ Canadian-owned firms pushing for more domestic contracts. The feds want to boost Canadian companies’ share of defence work from 43% to 70%.

On procurement, things are moving fast. The Navy plans to replace the aging Victoria-class submarine fleet with up to 12 new subs. And in the skies, Canada has committed to 16 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, though Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen is still in the conversation, promising Canadian jobs and local production.

Meanwhile, recruitment is up nearly 13%, and the Canadian Armed Forces are close to hitting 90% of their 7,600-person target. Arctic sovereignty is also front and centre, with regions like Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Alberta all playing a role in strengthening Canada’s northern presence.

This is about sovereignty, supply chains, jobs, and Canada stepping up in a more uncertain world. If you found this helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. Also, if you want to support more free content, consider grabbing a paid subscription or buying me a coffee; it really helps keep this going.

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