Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to testify on the impact Canada's defence industrial strategy will have on the country, a strategy that was proudly announced from our plant and head office in Montreal.
My name is France Hébert, and I am vice-president and director general of the defence and security division at CAE, for Canada and international.
At CAE, our purpose is simple. We exist to make the world safer. On the civil side, we do this by training over 150,000 pilots annually. In defence, we train the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces to support operational readiness through advanced training and simulation.
We are headquartered in Montreal and employ approximately 11,000 people globally, with approximately 5,000 here in Canada. We operate in more than 40 countries with over 240 locations worldwide. In defence and security, we employ more than 6,000 people and support over 85 military platforms from a wide range of manufacturers. This global experience allows us to deliver integrated training solutions across air, land and sea.
Here in Canada, we have a strong coast-to-coast footprint from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Comox, British Columbia, with 11 more locations in between, including in Trenton and Petawawa. We also support a network of more than 400 Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises through our supply chain.
The defence industrial strategy identified 10 key sovereign capabilities, one of which is training and simulation. CAE is uniquely positioned to champion this priority in Canada. We already build right here in Canada with Canadian suppliers. We partner with all major manufacturers and over 400 small and medium-sized businesses across Canada. We can integrate any platform the government would want to buy.
Our experience shows that acquiring platforms alone is not enough to achieve mission readiness. Without integrated modern training systems, mission support and a skilled workforce, Canada will not fully unlock the value of its defence investments.
In defence, there are three trends.
First, operations are increasingly complex. Fifth and sixth-generation fighter jets, advanced sensors and integrated systems require high-quality training environments, including simulations.
Second, there is an urgent need for action. Canada and its allies need to deploy capabilities more quickly. Beyond acquiring platforms, this also means accelerating recruitment and training.
Third, we have a great opportunity to strengthen Canada's industrial base. National champions must ensure that defence investments benefit the entire ecosystem by being targeted and creating sovereign intellectual property to support industry over the long term.
CAE is a popular partner. We recently announced several partnerships with global defence leaders. We are having productive discussions with Canada's allies, including German defence minister Pistorius, who visited our offices last week. These are a direct result of Canada's defence industrial strategy. These partnerships benefit our vast supply chain while strengthening the country's sovereign capabilities, which then become internationally competitive.
Based on our experience, I would highlight three recommendations.
First, identify and engage national champions quickly. We are encouraged by the recent release of the strategic partnership framework. We hope the government will identify strategic partners swiftly so that together we can implement the defence industrial strategy.
Second, use defence investment to build a Canadian industrial base. With a deliberate strategic partnership between government and industry, large corporations, SMEs and academic institutions can work in unity to drive economic growth, support innovation and create export opportunities. Established players can help mobilize the ecosystem and are best positioned to help the government achieve maximum economic impact.
Third, prioritize sovereign training and sustainment capabilities. Canada should invest in domestic training systems and infrastructure as part of major acquisitions. It could reverse the current trend. Instead of relying on foreign support, Canada could welcome its allies, expand international defence collaboration and share its expertise with the world as a strategic export capability.
Thank you again for this opportunity.