Government of Canada investing in defence innovation and manufacturing in Alberta
News release
Regional Defence Investment Initiative funding will advance made-in-Canada defence solutions to strengthen national security and defence industry capacity
May 12, 2026 – Calgary, Alberta – PrairiesCan
Today’s complex and unpredictable global security environment demands that Canada makes sustained and strategic investment to strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces and ensure that the nation can protect its sovereignty. With the first ever Defence Industrial Strategy – a plan to align long-term federal defence investments with defence industry capability – the Government of Canada is helping Alberta businesses develop Canadian-made defence technologies, strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity, and build more resilient supply chains, all while creating quality jobs for Canadians.
Today, Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on behalf of Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) announced a combined federal investment of more than $9.3 million through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII). This funding will generate economic activity for Alberta businesses while strengthening Canada’s national defence and security supply chain.
Funding will help six Alberta-based small and medium-sized businesses bring cutting-edge defence technologies to market, accelerate dual-use innovations, and reinforce Canada’s position as a leader in producing defence solutions. A full list of projects receiving PrairiesCan investment can be found in the associated backgrounder.
Over the past year, the Government of Canada has moved at unprecedented speed and scale to deliver on its plan to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces and our defence industrial sector. It’s how Canada has delivered on a core objective of its plan to achieving the NATO 2% defence spending target this year, half a decade ahead of schedule. Beyond enhancing military readiness, Canada's historic defence investment – including RDII investments announced today – is driving innovation, growing the defence industrial base, and creating long-term prosperity for Canadians.
Quotes
“Canada’s sovereignty and security depend on a strong and resilient domestic defence industry—and Alberta and the Prairies are at the heart of that effort. With world-class expertise in advanced manufacturing, energy, and innovation, Prairie businesses are uniquely positioned to deliver the made-in-Canada solutions our country needs. By investing in home-grown technologies right here in Alberta, we are strengthening our national defence industrial base, creating good jobs, and ensuring Canadian companies can provide secure, reliable equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces—today and for the future.”
–The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
“Alberta is playing an increasingly important role in Canada’s growing defence manufacturing sector. Calgary businesses have the skills, expertise and drive to scale-up to meet Canada’s national security needs. Today’s investment through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative will help innovative area companies expand production of Canadian military equipment, strengthen supply chains and increase resilience in the defence sector.”
–Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
“Recognizing the very stringent vetting and prioritization process that has gone into selecting RDII recipients, all of us at VizworX are extremely proud to have been selected for this support. We are excited to be able to accelerate the development and deployment of our Virtual Operations Environment (VOE), a Virtual Reality-based Command and Control solution, in support of the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces and our NATO allies. As a true dual-use solution, VOE will also enable significant enhancements to emergency and disaster response planning and logistics globally.”
–Jeff LaFrenz, President, VizworX
Quick facts
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The Canadian defence industry contributes nearly $10 billion to our gross domestic product and supports more than 81,000 jobs.
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Increasing investments in core military capabilities, building up Canadian industry, and dual-use investments are putting Canada on a pathway to meet the new North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defence Investment Pledge to invest 5% of gross domestic product by 2035.
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Approximately $63 billion in 2025–26 was spent on defence across the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other government departments. These investments deliver tangible progress across personnel, infrastructure, equipment, and operational priorities.
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The RDII is a three-year $379.2 million national program delivered by Canada’s seven Regional Development Agencies that aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy, advancing Canada’s ability to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in its military while strengthening supply chains, readiness, and international partnerships.
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PrairiesCan continues to accept RDII applications from eligible businesses and organizations operating across the Prairie provinces.
Related products
Associated links
Contacts
Soraya Lemur
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
soraya.lemur@ps-sp.gc.ca
343-574-6781
Narmin Hassam-Clark
Acting Communications Manager
Prairies Economic Development Canada
narmin.hassam-clark@prairiescan.gc.ca
587-532-7170
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