Delivering the Defence Industrial Strategy
Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) is a long‑term plan to strengthen national security and economic growth by building a strong, sustainable domestic defence industry. It aims to ensure Canada can equip, sustain, and modernize its armed forces at home, while supporting innovation, creating high‑quality jobs, and expanding global export opportunities.
The DIS is anchored in five key pillars:
- Pillar 1: Renewing our relationship with industry
- Pillar 2: Procuring strategically through a new “Build–Partner–Buy” framework
- Pillar 3: Investing purposefully to strengthen defence innovation
- Pillar 4: Securing supply chains for key inputs and goods
- Pillar 5: Working with key domestic partners, including in Canada’s North and Arctic
The Defence Investment Agency in the Defence Industrial Strategy
The Defence Investment Agency (DIA) plays a central role in the delivery of the DIS. It has responsibilities under all five pillars.
Pillar 1: Renewing our relationship with industry
- Provide a long-term demand signal
- Ensure regular industry engagement
- Assist industry to navigate government processes
- Establish and deliver a Ministerial Defence Advisory Forum
Pillar 2: Procuring strategically through a new “Build-Partner-Buy” framework
- Build - For home-grown strengths and key sovereign capabilities, new defence procurements will typically be directed to Canadian firms as a matter of policy.
- Partner - If Canada can’t build a capability at home or can benefit from working with others, it will partner with trusted allies and global companies.
- Buy - If Canada can’t build equipment at home or with allies, it will buy from allies with rules that require reinvestment in Canada’s defence industry and ensure Canada keeps control over how the equipment is used and maintained.
Pillar 3: Investing purposefully to strengthen defence innovation
- Supporting defence-related research and development and innovation
- Prioritizing Canadian intellectual property ownership, protection and access
- Expanding export promotion and support
Pillar 4: Securing supply chains for key inputs and goods
- Deepening the domestic supply chain
- Accessing essential raw material (steel, aluminum and critical minerals)
Pillar 5: Working with key domestic partners, including in Canada’s North and Arctic
The DIA will be a single point of contact to coordinate defence-related investment to drive economic growth and secure our sovereignty. It will work closely with federal departments, other levels of governments, Indigenous and Northern partners.