Canada’s February defence-industrial strategy sets a 10-year goal of directing 70% of defence acquisitions to Canadian firms and positioning domestic industry to pursue $180 billion in procurement opportunities. Those figures are targets and opportunity estimates, not evidence that money has been spent or contracts have been awarded.1 2
By Land Offset PAI
Sept. 25, 2026
OTTAWA — Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy makes the Defence Investment Agency central to a proposed overhaul of acquisition, saying the agency will streamline processes, prioritize Canadian manufacturing and strategic partnerships, and lead participation in joint procurement initiatives.2
The strategy’s “Build–Partner–Buy” framework calls for Canada to build domestically in selected sovereign-capability areas, partner with trusted allies where that is advantageous and buy from allies when neither route is feasible. The government says foreign acquisitions would carry conditions intended to support Canadian economic reinvestment, jobs and sovereign control of operation and sustainment.1 2
The policy includes stated 10-year outcomes such as raising the domestic share of defence acquisitions to 70%, increasing defence-industry revenues by more than 240%, creating 125,000 jobs and improving fleet-serviceability rates. Those are policy objectives, not current performance measures.1 2
A Sept. 23 Walrus analysis argues that the main execution question is whether Canada’s procurement system can identify, evaluate and absorb fast-moving dual-use technology. That is analysis, not a finding that the strategy has failed. It is consistent with the Library of Parliament’s account of a procurement system divided among several departments and made more complex over time.3 4
The federal strategy says a new Defence Platform at the Business Development Bank of Canada, the Canadian Defence Industry Resilience program, a Drone Innovation Hub and the BOREALIS research-and-innovation bureau are among its planned implementation tools. Individual programs, financing and procurement outcomes remain subject to their respective approvals and execution processes.1 2
Source note: This update follows a Source Canada event post that linked to the Walrus analysis. The article has been revised to distinguish the analysis from Canada’s announced policy targets and commitments.3 5
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