The federal authorities on Wednesday stated it is going to spend $1.4 billion to spice up Canada’s ammunition manufacturing, with Defence Minister David McGuinty calling it “important” for Canada’s independence.
McGuinty stated the launch of the Canadian Defence Trade Resilience Program will likely be a part of Canada’s broader Defence Industrial Technique, which Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced final month.
“It’s a program that basically means we’re attempting to strengthen Canada’s means to provide the defence gear we want right here at residence,” he stated.
“The flexibility to provide our personal ammunition just isn’t non-compulsory, it’s important. It strengthens our independence, it protects us from world provide disruptions and ensures that our armed forces have what they want, once they want it.”
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By means of this program, IMT Precision will obtain as much as $306.4 million to construct a brand new facility producing steel shells for 155-millimetre artillery projectiles, McGuinty stated.
“These are crucial parts utilized by our armed forces and our allies and in excessive demand globally, together with in Ukraine and even together with in Latvia, the place we have now 3,000 forward-deployed members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the place Canada is commanding a 14-nation multinational brigade,” he stated.
McGuinty additionally introduced plans to spice up manufacturing of nitrocellulose – a crucial element in propellants and ammunition – in Quebec.
He additionally introduced $57.8 million in spending to ascertain Canada’s first facility for making expenses for the M-231 and M-232 assault rifles, along with a $642-million funding to fabricate 155-millimetre high-explosive projectiles.
“Taken collectively, these aren’t simply investments. They’re constructing blocks of recent defence. They’re how we be sure that Canada is ready, not only for in the present day, however for the longer term,” he stated.
Responding to a query from reporters, McGuinty stated Canada was on observe to attain its purpose of spending two per cent of its GDP on defence by March 31.
“Keep tuned, and this isn’t a last-minute spending spree. That is the fruits of years of labor,” he stated.
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