Backgrounder: Strengthening Atlantic Canada’s defence capabilities in Dartmouth
Backgrounder
March 16, 2026 · Dartmouth, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
The Government of Canada is providing an investment of more than $3 million under the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) and the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) to three businesses in Dartmouth.
MilAero Electronics Atlantic Inc.
- $960,000 (repayable) through the RDII to purchase specialized systems and advanced equipment to increase production and meet growing demand, resulting in 25 new jobs. MilAero Academy will be established; a modular onsite training facility to streamline onboarding, certification, and retraining.
- $50,000 (non-repayable) through the RDII to hire a supply chain manager to strengthen procurement and material management and improve supply chain planning.
- $836,398 (non-repayable) through the RTRI to implement new digital tools and storage solutions. The project will improve efficiency and delivery timelines while managing cost pressures and strengthening resilience.
GSTS
- $952,500 (repayable) through the RDII to expand its facility and grow its workforce to fill skills gaps, enabling the company to advance product development and rapidly seize defence opportunities.
- $107,500 (repayable) through the RDII to further develop and commercialize its maritime vessel-tracking AI platform OCIANA, enhancing capabilities for defence, security, and supply chain applications and accelerating time to market.
Survival Systems Limited
- $345,000 (repayable) through the RDII to purchase new manufacturing equipment including CNC router tables and 3D plastic and composite printers. This equipment will allow the company to bring production of plastic composites for its Modular Egress Training Simulator in-house, improving production efficiency and capacity.
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