Canada adopts 'Build at Home' defence strategy to reclaim sovereignty.

Canada's new defence industrial strategy aims to award 70% of federal defence contracts to Canadian firms within a decade and sets targets to improve military equipment serviceability, supported by $6.6 billion from existing defence funding.

Canada has released a defence industrial strategy that emphasizes buying and maintaining most military equipment domestically and rebuilding readiness. The plan sets a target to award 70 per cent of federal defence contracts to Canadian firms within ten years and includes higher serviceability goals for navy ships, army vehicles and air force aircraft. Funding of $6.6 billion for the strategy is drawn from a broader $81.8-billion defence reinvestment plan in last year’s federal budget. The document frames a "Build-Partner-Buy" procurement approach and names 10 industrial sectors for greater sovereign capability. Key details: - The strategy sets a 70 per cent target for federal defence contracts to go to Canadian firms within a decade. - Serviceability goals include 75% for navy ships, 80% for army vehicles and 85% for air force planes; recent figures cited in the article showed large shares of equipment were previously deemed not serviceable. - The plan is backed by $6.6 billion taken from the government’s wider defence reinvestment funds. - A "Build-Partner-Buy" framework is central, with the strategy saying domestic building will be the default in areas of key sovereign capability. - The strategy lists 10 industrial sectors for sovereignty, led by aerospace and including ammunition, sensors, space surveillance platforms, training and simulation, specialized vehicle manufacturing, and drones. - The government proposes strategic partnerships with select Canadian companies and deeper alliances with trusted partners in Europe, the U.K. and the Indo-Pacific, while aiming to raise defence exports and create jobs. Summary: The strategy signals a policy shift toward prioritizing domestic production and industrial partnerships as part of Canada’s defence planning, with specific procurement and serviceability targets and $6.6 billion in assigned funding. The government reported the plan was delayed after a separate event and was slated for public release on Tuesday; further implementation steps and timelines are detailed in the full strategy.