National Defence

The committee was studying Canada's defence industrial strategy (DIS), and heard from Vincent Robitaille (Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement, Defence Investment Agency), Wendy Hadwen (Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy-Industry, Department of National Defence), Kate Kaminska (Director General, BOREALIS Joint Program Office, Defence Research and Development Canada), Kendal Hembroff (Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector, Department of Industry), Paula Folkes (Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works and Government Services), and Diogo Brandao (Senior Director, Policy and Engagement, Defence Investment Agency). The meeting also included testimony from Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr, who is not a witness for summary purposes.

Vincent Robitaille explained that the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) is shifting from a "best value" approach to giving significant weight to economic benefits in procurements, and that it works collaboratively with National Defence and ISED to structure contracts and evaluate criteria. He noted that the DIA uses selective tendering and strategic partnerships to simplify statements of requirement and speed up procurement, and that any use of new financial authorities under Bill C-31 would be subject to standard departmental planning and reporting.

Wendy Hadwen highlighted that the DIS focuses on 10 sovereign capabilities, developed with input from multiple departments, to better communicate demand signals to industry. She cited early results including a partnership to manufacture Ukrainian drone systems in Canada and a $40 million investment to assess a Canadian-controlled microreactor for northern military facilities. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with indigenous partners, particularly for northern operational support hubs, and noted that the strategy aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

Kate Kaminska described BOREALIS as a program to accelerate the transition of Canadian technologies from research to operational use, with a focus on connecting government, industry, academia and military end-users. She noted that a pilot maritime Defence Innovation Secure Hub was established in Halifax in November 2025, and that BOREALIS is working with the IDEaS program to advance drone-based targeting capabilities for the Canadian Army's Minerva initiative.

Kendal Hembroff outlined ISED's role in implementing the DIS, including a new concierge service for companies working on sovereign capabilities, and updates to the industrial and technological benefits policy that include enhanced multipliers for indigenous training and workforce development. She noted that the Business Development Bank of Canada's defence platform has already provided over $91 million in financing, and that the government has invested in over 500 companies across the country since the strategy's release.

Paula Folkes emphasized that the concierge service will help small and medium-sized enterprises navigate federal procurement, and that strategic partners are expected to integrate Canadian companies into their supply chains. She stated that moving toward higher defence spending targets will help send long-term demand signals to industry and accelerate procurement by ensuring funding is available earlier in the process.

Diogo Brandao described the DIS as a "North Star" that will drive the implementation of the build-partner-buy framework for procurement strategy considerations, but did not specify a particular published threat assessment to which the strategy is anchored.

During the meeting, the committee elected Christine Normandin as second vice-chair. There was no procedural debate on motions or votes beyond that election.