Canada’s aerospace and defence sectors are important contributors to the Canadiane economy and the Federal government has invested tens of millions of dollars in businesses working in these sectors to help spur growth and create jobs. As part of the spinoff activity from these investments via the government’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, Lockheed Martin’s is investing $10 million in Mannarino Systems and Software.
The ITB Policy requires successful suppliers to invest in Canada an amount equal to the defence contract that they have won. Montreal-based Mannarino Systems and Software, an engineering firm that supplies mission-critical equipment to the aerospace and defence sectors will receive $10 million from Lockheed Martin, a supplier of equipment to the Canadian Forces.
The investment by Lockheed is part of the company’s ITB obligations for the in-service support of the C-130J Super Hercules, a transport aircraft.
Among other things, the investment will support Mannarino’s efforts to develop proprietary software systems for aircraft.
“The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy has real and tangible benefits,” says Navdeep Bains, the Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “By applying this policy, the federal government is able to create high-skilled, well-paying jobs for Canadians working in the sector. Investments made under the policy, such as those made by Lockheed Martin, support research and technological breakthroughs. And they create the next generation of businesses, such as Mannarino, that have the potential to participate in the global supply chain for the aerospace and defence sectors. That’s how defence procurement drives innovation that leads to better jobs and better business opportunities for Canada.”
The Canadian aerospace and defence sector supports more than 240,000 jobs and contributes $31 billion annually to Canada’s gross domestic product.
The Canadian defence industry includes over 650 firms, supports the employment of more than 63,000 full-time workers and contributes $9.4 billion in revenue. The sector employs highly skilled workers in high quality jobs.
Since 1986, Canada’s ITB Policy (and previously the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy) have contributed almost $40 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product. These investments have led to good jobs for Canadians across the country.
To date, over 90 per cent of ITB obligations have been completed or have activities in progress.
The ITB Policy requires winning contractors to invest in Canada at an amount equal to the contract they have won. The policy’s Value Proposition ensures that defence contracts are awarded based on each bidder’s economic commitment to Canada, alongside price and technical merit.
Recent contract awards, such as the fixed-wing search and rescue project, have generated high-value investments in Canada and work for the Canadian aerospace and defence sectors.
Future opportunities include the proposed purchase of an interim fleet of Super Hornets and the future competition for fighter jets, which will mean more opportunities for Canadian aerospace and defence firms to position themselves within the global value chains of major multinational aerospace companies.
