By Colton LeBlanc
Nova Scotia has a long and proud history of defending our country and our allies – in the air, on land and at sea. When Canada has called, Nova Scotians have answered. Today is no exception, but this moment is different.
Canada is embarking on unprecedented defence investments. Driven by a changing global security environment and renewed commitments to our allies, the federal government is preparing to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild and modernize the Canadian Armed Forces and defence capacity.
We are uniquely positioned to lead. And we are acting decisively to make sure Canada’s defence future is built and sustained here.
Why Nova Scotia? Because defence capability isn’t something you can create overnight. It depends on skilled people, purpose-built infrastructure, industrial capacity and a leading-edge research and development hub – and Nova Scotia has spent generations building all four.
We are home to Canada’s largest military base by population, with more than 13,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and another 17,000 Nova Scotians working in defence and aerospace companies. We have the highest defence employment per capita in the country and the highest defence GDP per capita. This isn’t an emerging sector for us – it’s a proven one.
That foundation is already attracting investment. At CFB Greenwood and CFB Halifax, the federal government is moving ahead with major investments in upgrades that ensure our bases remain operationally critical for decades to come. At the same time, steel is being cut on the River class destroyers in Halifax, the most advanced warships Canada has ever built, anchoring thousands of skilled jobs and a national shipbuilding supply chain in our province.
COVE, our internationally recognized marine innovation hub, located on Halifax’s deep, ice-free harbour, is now home to Canada’s first Defence Innovation Secure Hub. NATO’s decision to locate its North American Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) in Halifax speaks volumes about the strength of our ecosystem and the trust our allies place in Nova Scotia’s capabilities.
And this is just the beginning.
The Province of Nova Scotia is partnering with Canada as they prepare to acquire new submarines, expand naval capacity and modernize coastal defence. Nova Scotia is the premier place in the country to support the Canadian Armed Forces with front-to-back solutions – from construction, manufacturing and maintenance to training and innovation. We are supporting our local defence companies so they can scale, innovate and compete. And we are investing in the conditions that the defence industry needs to keep succeeding: skilled workers, research partnerships and modern infrastructure.
What’s at stake is significant.
This defence investment wave could bring billions of dollars to Nova Scotia, create thousands of well paying jobs, strengthen our national security and secure long term economic growth for communities across the province.
Nova Scotia has never waited to be told to step up. We have earned our reputation as Canada’s defence leader through action, commitment and results. Now, as Canada looks to rebuild and strengthen its defence capabilities, we are also ready to do so again.
Nova Scotia is Canada’s defence leader, and we will lead.
Colton LeBlanc, is Nova Scotia’s Minister of Growth and Development.
