Successive governments have failed to adequately invest in Canada’s defence industrial base, depriving our military of the capabilities needed to contend with a far more dangerous world, limiting our ability to foster economic growth and resiliency, and isolating Canada from its closest allies and trading partners.

Compounding the challenge is the United States’ trade policy, which calls into question fundamental assumptions for our collective prosperity and security.

To effectively navigate Canada’s new circumstances, the Business Council of Canada recently urged the Government of Canada, in its report Security & Prosperity, to develop a new national strategy aimed at building a strong and sovereign defence industrial base.

Join Canadian Club Toronto on May 27 for a timely discussion on the importance of a new defence industrial base strategy and what it will mean for Canadian workers. Lana Payne, National President of Unifor – the largest private sector union in Canada – will kick off the panel with opening remarks. From there, Louise Blais, Canada’s former Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will moderate a discussion among three leading CEOs:

Blake Hutcheson – President and CEO, OMERS
Éric Martel – President and CEO, Bombardier Inc.
Nancy Southern – Chair and CEO, ATCO Ltd.
The event will close with an urgent appeal for action by Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada.