Trade Show Success A Clear Sign that Domestic Defence Industry is Competitive on the World Stage

CANSEC exhibit space and major activities all oversubscribed

Ottawa, May 29, 2014 –  CANSEC 2014, Canada’s premier defence trade show, today concluded two days of events and activities at the EY Centre in Ottawa, with attendance breaking show records.

The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) event, the largest of its kind in Canada, featured more than 10,000 registrants, 331 companies exhibiting products and services over 120,000 square feet of display space, almost 3,600 breakfast and luncheon keynote tickets sold, and 31 delegations from other countries visiting to see what Canadian firms have on offer - almost double the number of delegations from 2013. In addition, more than 600 Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government meetings were scheduled, a 50% increase over 2013.

"The high turnout of delegates and exhibitors, and the impressive array of international attendees - even in the face of a softening of defence spending in Canada and the U.S. - is a validation of the strategy of using this country's economic diplomacy tools to support a domestic defence industry that can compete and win around the world," said Tim Page, CADSI President.

Several keynote speakers brought insight and updates on developments about many of the initiatives and defence procurement-related reforms underway at DND and Public Works and Government Services Canada. These included Defence Minister Rob Nicholson and Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault, who provided additional details on the Defence Acquisition Guide, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Erin O’Toole, who spoke about the importance of exports to the sector. Public Works and Government Services Minister Diane Finley made an important announcement about changes to the Controlled Goods program, and provided additional details on the Defence Procurement Strategy to a sell-out crowd of 900 at the keynote lunch today.

"Industry welcomed these updates, particularly the changes to the Controlled Goods program, which will reduce barriers for Canadian companies competing in the international marketplace,” said Page. “It is clear that there is considerable activity and positive movement in terms of support to Canada’s defence industry in the last year. Government and industry share three common objectives in this regard - to streamline and simplify the procurement process; to increase the predictability and probability of successful procurements so that the men and women in Canada’s armed and security forces get the equipment they need to do their jobs; and to strengthen our industrial capacity and thereby bolster Canada’s economic and national security interests."

Today, CADSI also entered into a partnership with the Canadian Commercial Corporation, signing a memorandum of understanding to help broaden economic diplomacy and introduce new customers to Canadian-made products, services and technologies.

Further, as part of CADSI’s ongoing support to serving and retired military personnel, the Association joined the Veterans Affairs Canada Hire a Veteran initiative, and provided complementary booths to both Veterans Affairs Canada and The Royal Canadian Legion. For the first time, CADSI invited military members who have retired within the last two years to attend CANSEC as guests of The Legion and CADSI.

"Continuing the government-industry collaboration that has existed to date is essential to moving forward on the defence procurement reform file," said Page. "We support the Government’s efforts to provide the equipment needed by our military and Coast Guard, and to connect defence spending with domestic industrial opportunities that are effectively leveraged. CADSI is committed to continuing to work with Government to ensure that the Defence Procurement Strategy is implemented effectively, efficiently, and completely.”

A number of related events were held on May 27 in conjunction with CANSEC, including:

• A conference featuring CADSI as host to its Australian, British and American defence industrial association equivalents. The event was seen as a success by attendees, with 125 senior industry leaders and government officials discussing the outlook for the four national defence budgets, whether export reforms and defence trade treaties are making a difference, and how the defence and security business can deliver more through greater collaboration.
• CANSEC delegates also toured the National Research Council's national research and testing facilities to learn how these facilities have been used by defence and security companies and government departments to solve technical problems, trigger innovation and new ideas, accelerate technology commercialization, and increase certainty around technology choices in programs.
• The Women in Defence and Security organization hosted a golf tournament, raising thousands of dollars in support of a Memorial Scholarship to help provide financial assistance to deserving women who intend to pursue a career in Canada’s defence and security sector.