The world is changing rapidly. The international rules-based order is fading, and technological change is expanding the fields of conflict. The federal government is responding by rebuilding and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces and strengthening the defence industrial base.
Through Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy, the government is aligning long-term defence investments with industrial capability to support Canadian businesses and strengthen supply chains, creating thousands of well-paid jobs. In Atlantic Canada, this includes targeted investments through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) to strengthen the aerospace and defence sector by supporting local businesses and institutions, building long-term industrial capacity, and creating well-paid jobs here at home.
Today, the Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), announced federal defence investments in two New Brunswick projects on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
The two projects receiving support today under the RDII are:
- The University of New Brunswick in Fredericton is receiving $813,739 to develop a Maritime 3D Digital Twin platform that will enhance port capacity, trade flow efficiency, security, and environmental monitoring. This project will advance dual use defence technologies such as AI-enabled modelling, real time ocean sensing, and critical port infrastructure monitoring to strengthen maritime domain awareness and coastal infrastructure protection.
- CE3 Electronics Inc. in Dieppe is receiving $30,000 to launch a cybersecurity compliance initiative to achieve the certification needed for eligibility in U.S. and Canadian defence contracts.
The Defence Industrial Strategy will modernize the country's entire defence ecosystem. It will create good and well-paying jobs, ensure the Canadian Armed Forces have the equipment they need to keep Canada safe and sovereign, and strengthen Canada's role as a trusted ally.
The RDII is a pillar of the Strategy: it builds a strong and resilient defence industrial base by helping small and medium-sized businesses integrate into national and international defence and security supply chains.
