National Defence Committee on May 6th, 2026

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

We have 30 seconds.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

That's a very important question, Mr. Bezan. It's something that the defence industrial strategy is addressing. We are aligning financing—BDC, EDC export, as examples—and aligning deep research. We are aligning access to contracts. We'll be very clear in exposing, for the first time in Canada.... Remember, this is the first defence industrial strategy in the history of the country—the first.

What we're trying to do here is to make sure that we intersect what our Canadian Armed Forces need and how we can give rise to the more than 600 companies we have now in Canada in this space. We have a whole series of SME measures, which I think will help give rise to growth. As you know, so many of our companies are small. We're looking at the 40-employee company going to 100. We're looking at Colt Canada going from 200 to 400 employees. We're moving forward.

On the prime front, you're right, but let's be positive about the primes. Irving shipyards employs almost 3,000 people on the ground in Halifax, but 10,000 other Canadians around the country. It is the same with respect to the Vancouver shipyards. It's the same with respect to GDLS. It's the same for our large CAE—Bombardier and others—players. These become very important generators across the country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Bezan, thank you.

Again, as a reminder, gentlemen, speak through the chair.

I will now go over to you, Mr. Malette, for six minutes.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, as you and my friends around this table are now well aware, probably, my riding of Bay of Quinte hosts 8 Wing at CFB Trenton, which plays a critical role not only in supporting the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces but also as a major economic and community partner across the Bay of Quinte region.

Last year, Mr. Minister came to our riding and 8 Wing twice and announced massive investments on the base to help support recruitment, to better support our men and women in uniform and to replace aging assets. I can assure the minister that I find nothing embarrassing about our support for and pride in the Canadian Armed Forces and the capabilities of the men and women of 8 Wing and other air mobility units across Canada.

My question is this: Can the minister outline how the government is supporting infrastructure modernization and operational capacity at 8 Wing and elsewhere to ensure that it can continue meeting Canada's domestic and international air mobility needs, while also supporting the civilian workforce and surrounding communities that rely on our base and others?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

That's a great question, and specific.

Thank you, Mr. Malette, for your support for the work going on in the Trenton area.

The first thing to remember is that as we make these fundamental investments across the country, base by base, we're making tens of billions of dollars in investments. It's important—as you just did—to remind Canadians and each other that there's an additional positive spinoff, of course, for the Canadian economy. These are major industrial projects. They're going to have a really important knock-on effect. In the case of Trenton, if I recall the analysis we did, it's over 1,000 full-time jobs. That's important in a small community like Trenton.

Mr. Chair, through you, regarding details about where we are with Trenton, I'd like to ask, if I could, our ADM Heather Sheehy to update you on those specifics.

[Heather Sheehy, Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel, Department of National Defence]

Thank you for the question. I have some information I'll pass along.

Major capital infrastructure investments at Trenton are ongoing. They include strategic tanker transport capability infrastructure, ammunition storage, the Quinte West training centre and fixed-wing search and rescue capability. My colleague responsible for infrastructure has provided me with the information that this has allowed us to increase minor capital investments in maintenance repair, with $63 million planned this fiscal year across 40 different projects. This represents a doubling of maintenance and repair investment and nearly a quadrupling of minor capital investments. The three-year forecasted spending in Trenton is $165 million.

For military housing, in particular—which I know is of interest to members—there are 92 residential housing units currently under construction on the base as part of phase one of our residential housing plan. A further 384 units will be constructed under phase two. I am told that the RFP will be going out for phase two in the next few weeks.

I can report, through my colleague, that all of the above projects are currently on track.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

I am very happy to hear that, Ms. Sheehy. Thank you very much for that update.

Further to that, Minister, 8 Wing Trenton is the hub of Canada's air mobility operations, as I mentioned, and plays a central role in humanitarian assistance, Arctic sovereignty and NATO commitments.

Can you please provide an update on how the defence industrial strategy will ensure that the wing has the personnel, equipment and infrastructure needed to meet growing operational demands?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

The DIS—I think that's the question—will, for the first time, help us understand the intersection between this economic sector called defence and the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. It's the first time we've had this open conversation in Canada as a matter of public policy and practical application of strategy. It's going to be very important for us to make sure these two things are aligned closely not just for our own needs but also for the incredible opportunities for us to sell abroad. I can speak about that later. There are many opportunities as we sign more and more bilateral deals—including the one in Europe, recently, which I'd be pleased to expand on.

What we're doing is marrying these two via the practical needs of the forces on 33 bases, base by base. It's a full assessment, top to bottom. What are the kitchen needs? What are the electrification needs? What are the housing needs? What are the water and waste-water needs? We need to get this right for the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces. We need to make sure their quality of life is augmented, because we ask them to do difficult things. They live in a system that many of us don't have to live in, so it's very important for us to make those investments.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Thank you very much, Minister.

I have one last question, which is, again, very 8 Wing-centric. As we mentioned, 8 Wing has repeatedly stepped up during emergencies here at home, from evacuations to disaster response.

In the current investment strategy, how is the government ensuring that our wing and others remain equipped to respond rapidly to increasingly frequent domestic emergencies caused by extreme weather and other crises?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

The first thing I would say is that there is $850 million to repair and expand the base itself. The second thing I would say is that there is $3.2 billion in the order we've made for nine Husky refuellers. We're re-equipping. We haven't had this type of volume of a fleet of refuellers, for example, ever, in my recollection. We're moving forward on this front.

Of course, they will continue to play a role in firefighting and in natural emergencies. For example, through Prestwick, where we have an operation in Scotland, they're doing work for United Nations relief and helping to transport goods from all over Europe and the world into Poland for Ukrainian use. They are very well placed and doing, frankly, incredible work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Thank you, Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Malette.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

We're very much looking forward to welcoming the Husky fleet, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, we'll go over to you for six minutes.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, thank you for being here today. I'd also like to thank everyone from the department who is here with you.

This question was asked earlier, but I'd like to ask it again briefly to make sure I've fully understood all the details. Regarding the fighter jets, are we still talking about 88 F‑35s, or are we talking about a mixed fleet that could include Gripens? I'd appreciate a brief response.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

The decision to purchase 88 aircraft hasn't been made yet. We have ordered 16 aircraft, and we're following the relevant process. However, the analysis and review are ongoing.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

So, the door to a mixed fleet that would include aircraft other than F‑35s is not closed. Is that correct?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

The issue of a fleet of fighter jets is currently under review.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Thank you. So, it's clear that nothing is off the table.

Now, let's say I'm relying on a Radio-Canada article published this morning, which stated that the government wants to quickly select a new fleet of early warning aircraft with high Canadian content. Furthermore, it wants the fleet to be as compatible as possible with future F‑35 fighter jets and other ‘fifth-generation’ capabilities.

How will the government ensure that such Canadian content is prioritized?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Sorry, but which aircraft are you referring to?

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

I'm quoting an article from Radio-Canada that came out this morning. You may have seen it.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

No, I haven't.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

The plan is to quickly select a new fleet of early warning aircraft with high Canadian content. In addition, it must be as compatible as possible with the future F‑35 fighter jets and other ‘fifth-generation’ capabilities.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

If I understand correctly, the purchase of this type of airborne warning and control system, known by the acronym AWACS, is a first in the country's history. Canada has never had one.

We are examining this issue. We are currently exploring the international market. This also touches, of course, on the issue of NATO and interoperability with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, and our American neighbours. No decision has been made on this matter.

I remember the article now. It's a speculative piece. We'll see when the decision is made.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

I understand these are statements from the government, but there is already talk, at the very least, of prioritizing high Canadian content. Is there a strategy or set of tactics in place to ensure that this will happen?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

In our procurement system, there is a policy managed by our new agency that pertains to buy local: buy Canadian. This policy is currently being implemented. It applies not only to the purchase of such aircraft, for example, but also directly to negotiations pertaining to the purchase of submarines.