Canada’s defence industry is a significant contributor to Canada’s economy, representing $6.7 billion GDP, generating $10 billion in revenues, and creating 63,000 jobs in Canada according to a new report by Science, Innovation and Economic Development Canada and Statistics Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).
The report, State of Canada’s Defence Industry, 2014, is important for industry and government, says Christyn Cianfarani, president of CADSI.
“It is the most detailed and comprehensive study of the Canadian defence sector ever conducted and it confirms that Canada’s defence industry is high wage, export intensive, technology rich and pan-Canadian.”
The report indicates that Canada’s defence industry compensation is 60 per cent higher than the national average. The sector’s export performance is 60 per cent of sales, up from 50 percent in 2011. Engineers, scientists, researchers, technicians and technologists comprise over 30 per cent of the jobs in the defence industry, which highlights the innovative nature of the sector. Production workers make up another 40 per cent of the defence labour force.
“Companies that make up the Canadian defence industrial base—most of which are present here at CANSEC—and the types of jobs they offer, are what Canada needs and what governments should value in today’s global economy,” adds Cianfarani. “With the recapitalisation of the Canadian Armed Forces currently underway, the Government of Canada has the opportunity of a generation to make the Canadian defence industry a source of innovation-led growth.”
According to the report, the top five defence industrial activities in 2014 in Western and Northern Canada, representing 15 per cent of total employment, include:
- Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services
- Naval Ship Fabrication, Structures & Components
- Aircraft Fabrication, Structures & Components
- Combat Vehicles & Related Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; ‘Other Defence’
- Naval Ship-Borne Systems (i.e., Mission Systems) and Components
In Ontario, the top five defence industrial activities in 2014 representing 44 per cent of total employment, include:
- Combat Vehicles & Related Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; and ‘Other Defence’
- Airborne Communications, Navigation, & Other Information Systems, Software, Electronics
- Aircraft Fabrication, Structures and Components
- Airborne Sensor/Information Collection; and Fire Control, Warning & Countermeasures Systems
- Land/Man Portable Sensor/Information Collection; and Fire Control, Warning & Countermeasures Systems
In Quebec, the top five defence industrial activities in 2014 representing 24 per cent of total employment, include:
- Combat Vehicles & Related Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; and ‘Other Defence’
- Firearms, Ammunition, Missiles, Rockets, and Other Munitions & Weapons
- Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services
- Airborne Communications, Navigation, & Other Information Systems, Software, Electronics
- Aircraft Fabrication, Structures and Components
In the Atlantic provinces, the top five defence industrial activities in 2014 representing 17 per cent of total employment, include:
- Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services (MRO)
- Naval Ship MRO
- Naval Ship-Borne Systems (i.e., Mission Systems) and Components
- Combat Vehicles & Related Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; and ‘Other Defence’
- Aircraft Fabrication, Structures & Components
