Vanguard Magazine

Industry EVEnTS AiAc lAunches Vision 2025 By MArcello sukhdeo 32 DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com At its annual Canadian Aerospace Summit held on November 13-14, the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) officially launched Vision 2025: Beyond our Imagination. Vision 2025 As an industry-led initiative, Vision 2025 aims to bring industry, government, the public and other stakeholders together to begin a new discussion that will map a course for Canada's future in the interna- tional aerospace sector. Charting such a course for Canada at this time is crucial. Leading the charge of this new initiative is former Deputy Prime Min- ister and Quebec Premier Jean Charest. In officially launching Vision 2025 during the Summit's Annual Aerospace Dinner, Mr. Charest pointed out that "global competi- tion has never been fiercer, and we're at a turning point where Canada must step up to compete, or risk being left behind." To help in the stepping up efforts, Mr. Charest will drive Vision 2025 through engage- ment days across Canada. "I look forward to engaging with in- dustry leaders and hearing their insights, expertise and opinions on how we can come together and ensure a strong, vital aerospace sector that will propel Canada's economy now and, in the future," he said. AIAC will host engagement days in key aerospace communities in the country, with the first one slated for Toronto on December 10. The rest of the events are scheduled as follows: Montreal, December 13; Vancouver, January 10; Halifax, Janu- ary 17; and Winnipeg, January 28. Even though Canada's aerospace sector is ranked fifth in the world, contributing about $25 billion annually to its economy and employing almost 190,000 people, a current comprehensive strategy to grow the sector is not in place. Such a plan to guide the nation's investment in the industry has not been proposed for many decades. With Vision 2025, AIAC is looking to outline a strategy to ensure that Canada's aerospace industry is not left behind. "Aerospace is growing and evolving at an unprecedented rate, and Canada can't afford to be complacent. New markets are opening, and new players are shaping the highly competitive landscape," said Jim Quick, President and CEO of AIAC. "In a fiercely competitive global economy, Cana- da needs industry and government to come together behind a focused, long-term vi- sion and strategy for the sector. That's why Vision 2025 is essential to our success." The Charest-led talks in cities across Canada will culminate in a report that will provide recommendations to drive the growth in the aerospace sector. Mr. Cha- rest said that he looks forward to having open, productive conversations about how Canada can leverage its competitive advan- tages and overcome barriers to growth and innovation so that the aerospace industry can continue to succeed in the face of global risk and uncertainty. "We are thrilled to have Mr. Charest in- volved in this special initiative and excited to see where Vision 2025 takes our indus- try over the next decade," said Quick. New Chair The event also saw the election of Patrick Mann, President of Patlon Aircraft & In- dustries, as the new Chair of the AIAC Board of Directors. He replaces Cynthia Garneau, President of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, who served as Chair of the AIAC Board over the last year. With the Vision 2025 initiative, Mann said that this is an essential time for the as- sociation and industry, and he is honoured to have the opportunity to serve as AIAC's Board Chair in working to ensure that the aerospace industry remains a leader in the global marketplace. Mann has a great depth of knowledge in the aerospace industry and plays an in- tegral part in his company where he has served as the President since 1985. Under From le to right: Jim Quick, President & CEO, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada; The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innova- tion, Science and Economic Development; and Jim Bridenstine, Administra- tor, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

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