Canadian Armed Forces members deploy to Jamaica to train CARICOM troops for Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti.

On the same subject

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  May 17, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  Federal government invests in innovative training for aerospace and defence sectors

  News release Investment will help create and maintain more than 200 jobs and promote innovation in Atlantic Canada May 16, 2018 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada The Government of Canada is maintaining and creating well-paying middle-class jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity by investing in the growth of small businesses to promote innovation and global competitiveness. Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced a repayable investment of $7.6 million to support a $19-million project by Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc., a company that provides simulation technology, simulators and training programs to the aerospace and defence sectors. The funding will help Bluedrop create or maintain more than 200 jobs by supporting the design and development of next-generation aerospace and marine simulation and training products. The project will adapt gaming and mobile technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality to improve the use of artificial intelligence in developing new simulation and training products used by air and marine crews. This investment will lead to training that is more relevant and cost-effective and that improves safety for air and marine crews. This investment is being made through the Strategic Innovation Fund, a program designed to attract and support high-quality business investments across all sectors of the economy by encouraging R&D that will accelerate technology transfer and the commercialization of innovative products, processes and services and will facilitate the growth of innovative firms. Quotes “Our government is investing to help small businesses across Canada grow and be active players in innovative sectors of the economy. This investment in Bluedrop's innovative simulation and training technologies will support the creation of middle-class jobs in Atlantic Canada and foster a vibrant regional economy. This investment is a concrete example of our government's ambitious agenda to strengthen the middle class, create jobs, and ensure a prosperous and inclusive future for Canadians.” – The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board “Bluedrop welcomes this support from the Government of Canada, through the Strategic Innovation Fund, as we look to further enhance our competitive position through the development of next-generation training solutions.” – Derrick Rowe, Executive Chairman of the Board of Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc. Quick facts Founded in 2012, Bluedrop Training and Simulation Inc. designs and develops advanced training systems and state-of-the-art simulation products to safely train operators and maintainers of complex equipment. The company is headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and also has a location in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the project will take place. The Strategic Innovation Fund is a flexible program that reflects the diversity of innovation in all sectors of the economy. In addition to the Strategic Innovation Fund, there are hundreds of programs and services to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada's economy. With a simple, story-based user interface, the new Innovation Canada platform can match businesses with the most fitting programs and services in about two minutes. https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2018/05/federal-government-invests-in-innovative-training-for-aerospace-and-defence-sectors.html

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  May 31, 2019 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Supporting jobs and skills through defence purchases

  Defence procurements support skills development for Canadians May 29, 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario The Government of Canada's defence and major Coast Guard purchases result in billions of dollars of work for Canadian companies and support thousands of jobs annually. Going forward, they will also contribute to the development of a highly skilled and diverse workforce. The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, underscored this today while at CANSEC, Canada's largest defence and security trade show, where he helped unveil the new Canadian Industrial Leadership Award (CILA). A joint initiative from L3 Technologies, Thales Canada and CAE Inc., CILA will offer fully paid internships/co-ops to 10 female students with demonstrated leadership and academic skills. The students will work on innovative projects to support their education and receive mentorship in STEM disciplines. The companies created this program as a result of the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, which requires winning bidders of defence contracts to invest the value of the contract back into the Canadian economy. Minister Bains also announced updates to the Policy that will promote the development of new skills. Specifically, prime contractors will now receive additional credit through the ITB Policy for investments in skills development and training for Indigenous peoples in Canada. A new cyber certification feature was also added to improve access for Canadian small and medium-sized firms seeking opportunities related to defence procurement. This will help advance the Government's commitment to setting and promoting a national standard for cyber protection among Canadian businesses. The addition follows the publication of the 10 principles that make up Canada's new Digital Charter, one of which states that Canadians should be able to rely on the integrity, authenticity and security of the services they use and should feel safe online. Quotes “In a competitive global economy, Canada can't afford to leave talent on the sidelines. Through the ITB Policy, the government is helping to ensure the development of a more skilled and inclusive workforce. The Canadian Industrial Leadership Award is a great example of how our policy can promote investment in the advancement of women in STEM. Going forward, the enhancements to the policy that were announced today will also motivate new investments in skills development and training for Indigenous peoples. It will also lead to improved access to cyber certification for small and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to better compete in this innovative industry.” – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Quick facts The ITB Policy encourages companies to establish or grow their presence in Canada, strengthen Canadian supply chains, and develop Canadian industrial capabilities in areas such as innovation, research and development, supplier development, and exports. The ITB Policy includes the Value Proposition, which motivates bidders on Canadian defence contracts to put forward proposed investments toward their ITB obligations when making their bids. As of January 2019, the overall portfolio of ITB obligations included 161 projects valued at almost $47 billion, with $36.1 billion in business activities already completed, $7.1 billion of activities in progress and $3.7 billion in unidentified future work opportunities. The Canadian defence industry includes over 660 firms with more than $10 billion in sales, supports close to 60,000 jobs in the Canadian economy, and employs highly skilled workers in high-quality jobs. https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2019/05/supporting-jobs-and-skills-through-defence-purchases.html

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  February 23, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  EDC overview of the changes to U.S. government procurement

  This EDC report offers an overview of the changes to U.S. government procurement and implications for Canadian companies.