When we published our initial analysis of Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) in early March, the ink on the February 17 announcement was barely dry. The strategy was ambitious, generational even, but it was still mostly a framework. Targets, pillars, principles. The question that most clients were actually asking us was: okay, but what's going to happen, and when?

Seven weeks later, we have a lot more to work with. The government has moved fast, faster than most people expected, and the picture is considerably clearer. Canada has now formally hit the NATO 2% target. A $35-billion Arctic infrastructure package has been announced. The National Research Council (NRC) has deployed nearly a billion dollars in defence innovation investments. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has expanded its Defence Platform to $6 billion and is already writing cheques. The legislative path for the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) is in motion. And the federal budget is expected to provide further detail on the financing picture.

This update tracks what has changed since our first article, what it means for companies positioning themselves in this space, and where counsel can add the most value right now.

Download our follow-up on Security, Sovereignty and Prosperity and where the real opportunities are now. 

Need help navigating Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy?

If you are pursuing defence or security opportunities in Canada, or looking to invest, partner, or scale within the DIS framework, we can help you move forward with confidence.

Contact John Paul (JP) Smith  to discuss procurement strategy, investment considerations, compliance requirements, and next steps under the DIS.