On June 9, 2026, the Ottawa Board of Trade’s inaugural Defence Forum brought together leaders from government, industry, academia, and the defence sector to explore one of the most significant opportunities facing Canada today: strengthening our defence capabilities while driving economic growth, innovation, and national resilience.
Held in the National Capital Region, the forum convened experts and decision-makers to examine the evolving defence landscape, from emerging technologies and Arctic sovereignty to procurement reform and industrial growth. Throughout the day, one message was clear: Canada’s defence future and its economic future are deeply interconnected, and Ottawa is uniquely positioned to lead.
Ottawa at the Centre of Canada’s Defence Ecosystem
Opening remarks set the stage for a day focused on turning strategy into action. As home to Canada’s National Defence Headquarters, more than 300 defence, aerospace, and security companies, world-class research institutions, and one of North America’s highest concentrations of security-cleared talent, the National Capital Region has all the ingredients needed to become a global leader in defence innovation.
The forum also highlighted the ambitious vision behind Canada’s Capital Region National Defence Innovation Hub Strategy, which aims to attract $1-3 billion in investment and create up to 18,000 high-value jobs over the next three to five years. The strategy positions our region at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, and autonomous systems.
Canada’s Defence Investments Present Significant Economic Opportunities
During a timely discussion on Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, participants heard how Canada is making historic investments in security, infrastructure, and sovereignty, including a planned $40 billion investment in the Arctic and the achievement of NATO’s 2% spending target ahead of schedule.
For Ottawa, the implications are substantial. With more than 26,500 Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence personnel in the region, hundreds of active defence contracts, major investments in aerospace infrastructure, and significant redevelopment projects on the horizon, Ottawa’s business community is well positioned to innovate, grow, and lead.
Forum participants also learned about new tools being developed to help businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, better access procurement opportunities and connect with government needs.
Building the Capabilities of the Future
A recurring theme throughout the day was the need to accelerate innovation and strengthen collaboration between industry, government, and the military.
Discussions on autonomous systems highlighted Canada’s opportunity to lead in one of the fastest-growing areas of defence innovation. Ottawa’s unique ecosystem of innovators, researchers, decision-makers, and testing facilities gives the region a competitive advantage, but participants emphasized that realizing this potential will require modernized regulations, stronger pathways from innovation to procurement, specialized talent development, and a greater tolerance for experimentation and risk.
Keynote speakers reinforced that Canada’s defence transformation represents one of the most significant rebuilding efforts since the Second World War. Rebuilding critical supply chains, advancing emerging technologies, modernizing procurement, and investing in domestic industrial capacity will all be essential to meeting evolving security challenges.
Arctic Sovereignty Requires Partnership and Infrastructure
One of the forum’s most compelling discussions focused on Arctic sovereignty and the convergence of defence, energy, and infrastructure.
Panelists emphasized that Arctic sovereignty depends on far more than geography. Reliable connectivity, resilient energy systems, and modern infrastructure are foundational to Canada’s ability to operate effectively in the North. Equally important is meaningful collaboration with Indigenous and northern communities, whose knowledge and partnership are essential to long-term success.
Covering nearly half of Canada’s landmass, the Arctic represents a tremendous opportunity for Canadian innovation and investment. The challenge, participants noted, is ensuring that procurement systems and policy frameworks can move quickly enough to harness the talent, technology, and solutions that already exist within Canada.
From Innovation to Contract: Scaling Canadian Success
The forum concluded with a discussion on one of the most pressing challenges facing Canada’s defence sector: turning innovation into commercial success.
Industry leaders explored how Canadian companies are navigating the defence procurement process and identified opportunities to streamline security clearances, reduce barriers for small and medium-sized businesses, decentralize procurement decision-making, and accelerate the commercialization and adoption of Canadian technologies.
The conversation reinforced Ottawa’s position as a global hub for defence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. As Canada invests in strengthening its defence capabilities, procurement reform must remain mission-focused and ensure that innovative Canadian companies can bring critical solutions to market faster and more effectively.
Looking Ahead
The inaugural Defence Forum demonstrated that Canada is entering a new era of investment in defence, sovereignty, and security – and that Ottawa will play a central role in shaping what comes next.
The opportunities before our business community are significant. By strengthening partnerships between industry, government, academia, and the military, Canada can build the capabilities needed to enhance national security while driving innovation, economic growth, and prosperity.
The Ottawa Board of Trade extends its sincere thanks to all of our speakers, moderators, and attendees for contributing to an important and forward-looking conversation.
Thank you to our Defence Forum sponsors for making this inaugural event possible:
- Calian Group
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
- Deloitte
- RBC
- Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Commissionaires Ottawa
- Gowling WLG
- Syntronic – A Global Design House
- SINIX Media Group / Ottawa Print Services
- House of Common Studio
Together, we are helping to position Ottawa and Canada to lead in the next generation of defence, security, and resilience.