CCI Statement on Ontario’s Defence Industrial Strategy Framework

Today the Ontario government released its framework for a 10-year Defence Industrial Strategy at CANSEC. The framework outlines Ontario’s ambition to strengthen the province’s defence industrial base, grow domestic capacity in strategic sectors, and position Ontario as a global leader in emerging defence technologies. In response to the announcement, CCI Director of Ontario Affairs Hina Ahmed issued the following statement on behalf of our members:

“Scaling Canadian innovators need governments to treat procurement and industrial policy as strategic economic tools to help Canadian companies grow. We are encouraged to see the Ontario government release a framework that recognizes the enormous opportunity in building a stronger domestic defence industrial base.

“The framework focuses on areas where Ontario companies already have significant strengths and aligns closely with  CCI's national advocacy through Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, and broader procurement modernization efforts and in our Buying What We Build report.

“Ultimately, the success of this strategy will be measured by whether it helps Canadian companies scale, commercialize, and grow here at home. That means creating clearer procurement pathways for domestic firms, ensuring that public investments generate Canadian economic value-add, and building stronger protections around Canadian intellectual property, data sovereignty, and domestic supply chains.

“The opportunity in front of Ontario is significant. The global market is moving quickly, and jurisdictions around the world are acting aggressively to strengthen domestic industrial capacity. Ontario already has the companies, talent, and technologies to lead. Government must ensure that Canadian innovators are at the centre of this strategy and positioned to compete and grow here at home, and globally.”

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Lisa Brody Hoffman
Director of Communications
‍lhoffman@canadianinnovators.org