Atlantic Canada and Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits policy

The Government of Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy requires companies that are awarded major Canadian defence procurement contracts to conduct business activities in Canada.

By leveraging the opportunities that stem from the ITB Policy, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) helps Atlantic Canadian stakeholders, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities and colleges, enter the supply chains and seek investment opportunities by defence contractors on major aerospace, marine and land projects with the Government of Canada.

Industrial and Technological Benefits

The Government of Canada implemented the ITB Policy, formerly the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy, in 2014 to leverage employment and economic activity from major federal defence and security procurements. The ITB Authority at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) administers the ITB Policy.

The policy aims to promote economic growth by ensuring Canadian contractors benefit from major defence projects.  The ITB Policy requires companies bidding on major defence procurements to submit Value Propositions (VP) that outlines how they will work with subcontractors, invest in research and development, increase exports by Canadian industry, and support skills development and training.

ACOA is the principal federal government organization that supports the policy within the Atlantic Canada region.  ACOA works closely with Atlantic Canadian businesses, universities and colleges, provincial governments and regional associations to promote their capabilities to contractors engaged in major Canadian defence procurement projects. ACOA regularly advocates for consideration of Atlantic Canadian key industrial capabilities against ITB and VP requirements established by ISED and implemented through defence contractors.

ACOA supports Atlantic Canadian industry by:

• Working with Atlantic Canadian industry, post-secondary and research institutions, industry associations and federal, provincial and municipal stakeholders to ensure that the region’s aerospace, defence and security industry remains competitive
• Advocating for Atlantic Canadian capabilities when the Government of Canada considers leveraging major defence procurement for economic opportunities
• Supporting engagement with contractors and government stakeholders
• Matching Atlantic Canadian capabilities with defence contractors’ supply chain needs for bids for Value Propositions and Key Industrial Capabilities (KICs)
• Facilitating opportunities for investments that match defence contractors’ business lines
• Providing opportunities for Atlantic Canadian industry through networking events, tours, trade shows and conferences
• Conducting awareness sessions on the ITB Policy and promoting opportunities in the Canadian defence and security sector

ACOA supports defence and security contractors involved in major Canadian aerospace, defence and security projects by:

• Providing Atlantic Canadian capabilities to match defence contractors’ needs for Value Proposition and Key Industrial Capabilities (KICs)
• Facilitating industry engagement with Atlantic Canadian industry, including industry days and tours in the region
• Supporting Atlantic Canadian firms to meet major defence contractors at Canadian and international trade shows
• Assisting major contractors in understanding the ITB Policy and Value Proposition

Contacts at ACOA for Industrial and Technological Benefits:

Industry events

• Atlantic Canadian industry events

  • Defence Trends Symposium
    Annual, Early May at the 5^th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, Oromocto, NB
    Next event: May 5 to 6, 2020
    www.ac-ada.ca/events
  • H2O Conference and Exhibition
    Annual: Mid-June in Halifax, NS at the Halifax Convention Centre
    Next event: June 15 to 17, 2020
    www.h2oconference.ca
  • Sea to Sky
    Annual: Mid-August at the Rodd Brudenell River Resort, Cardigan, PE
    Next event: Date TBC
    www.seatoskyconference.ca
  • The Canadian Defence Security and Aerospace Exhibition Atlantic (DEFSEC)
    Annual: Early October at the Cunard Centre, in Halifax, NS
    Next event: September 29 to October 1, 2020
    www.defsecatlantic.ca
  • Maritime & Arctic Security & Safety Conference (MASS)
    Annual: Early November at the Sheraton Hotel, St. John’s, NL
    Next event: Date TBC
    www.maritimearcticsecurity.ca
• Canadian industry events

  • ShipTech Forum
    Annual: Late February or Early March 2020 in Ottawa, ON
    Next event: February 25, 2020 at the Westin Hotel, Ottawa, ON
    www.vanguardcanada.com/events/shiptech2020/
  • Western Innovation Forum (WIF)
    Annual: Early March in Vancouver, BC
    Next event: March 5, 2020 at the Vancouver Marriot Pinnacle Downtown, Vancouver, BC
    www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/19655.asp
  • CADSI Canadian Armed Forces Outlooks
    Annual: Early April in Ottawa, ON
    Next event: April 7 to 9, 2020 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, ON
    www.defenceandsecurity.ca/CAF/
  • Mari-Tech
    Annual: April; rotating locations across Canada
    Next event: April 28 to 30, 2020 at the Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS
    www.mari-techconference.ca
  • CANSEC
    Annual: Late May 2020 in Ottawa, ON
    Next event: May 27 to 28, 2020 at the EY Centre, Ottawa, ON
    www.defenceandsecurity.ca/CANSEC/
  • CADSI SME Day
    Annual: Mid-October in Ottawa, ON
    Next event: TBC
    www.defenceandsecurity.ca/smeday/
  • Best Defence Conference
    Annual: Early November in London, ON
    Next event: November 17 to 18, 2020
    www.bestdefenceconference.com
• International industry events

  • Sea Air and Space
    Annual: Early April at the Gaylord National Convention Center, National Harbor, MD, US
    Next event: April 6 to 8, 2020
    www.seaairspace.org
  • Paris Air Show
    Biennial, odd years: Mid-June at Le Bourget, Paris, France
    Next event: June 21 to 27, 2021
    www.siae.fr
  • Farnborough Air Show
    Biennial, even years: Mid-July at the Farnborough Exhibition and Conference Centre, Farnborough, UK
    Next event: July 20 to 24, 2020
    www.farnboroughairshow.com
  • Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi)
    Biennial, odd years: Mid-September at the ExCeL Centre, London, UK
    Next event: September 14 to 17, 2021
    www.dsei.co.uk
  • Euronaval
    Biennial, even years: Mid-October at the Le Bourget, Paris, France
    Next event: October 20 to 23, 2020
    https://www.euronaval.fr/9-visitors
  • The Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (ITSEC)
    Annual: Early December at the Orange Country Convention Centre, Orlando, FL, US
    Next event: November 30 to December 4, 2020
    www.iitsec.org
  • Exponaval
    Biennial, even years: Early-December in Base Aeronaval Concón in Valpáraiso, Chile
    Next event: December 1 to 4, 2020
    www.exponaval.cl/en/

Helpful links

• Atlantic Canadian

  • Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association: www.ac-ada.ca
  • Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship: www.coveocean.com
  • Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia: www.otcns.ca
  • Oceans Advance: www.oceansadvance.net
  • Springboard Atlantic: www.springboardatlantic.ca
• Industrial and Technological Benefits

  • Government of Canada, Industrial and Technological Benefits: www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/086.nsf/eng/home
  • Government of Canada, Department of National Defence, Defence Capabilities Blueprint: www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/defence-investment-plan-2018.html
  • Government of Canada, National Shipbuilding Strategy: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/amd-dp/mer-sea/sncn-nss/index-eng.html
  • Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Controlled Goods Programs: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/pmc-cgp/index-eng.html