Vanguard Magazine

30 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com AEROSPACE our positioning was slipping even prior to the effects of the global pandemic. The post-pandemic competition will be fierce. Without a strategy, it will be increasingly difficult for Canada to compete and con- tribute to the economic recovery that is required. Canada must have a clear vision of where and how it will compete to win so that the entire value chain can contribute and succeed. We must build upon our strengths, in- cluding our highly skilled, world-leading workforce. We need to support these workers and grow the workforce through skilled labour programs, partnerships with post-secondary institutions, industry- government collaboration, and coopera- tion with Employment and Social Devel- opment Canada, and other departments across government to ensure we have the workers for high-paying, value-added jobs for generations to come. As part of a Canadian Aerospace Strate- gy, Canada too needs a Defence Industrial Strategy to ensure procurement continues to support the development of Canadian industrial capacity and capability. As a country, we need to commit to ensuring procurements, both large and small, continue without delay and are fi- nalized and announced in a timely manner. Maintaining a predictable and consistent defence procurement program will be of significant benefit to the industry and also Canada's long-term security requirements. Canada can use procurements through Strong, Secure, and Engaged to support the development of Canadian industrial ca- pacity and capability. This would showcase firms that operate in Canada and have glob- al leading technology, services, and aircraft. There are also opportunities when it comes to modernizing aerospace and de- fence programs to spur investment. Updat- ing key aerospace and defence programs such as the Industrial Technology Ben- efits (ITB) program to increase support for SMEs and the Canadian supply chain should be part of the discussion moving forward. The Canadian Advanced Research Projects Agency that was committed to in the Liberal Party of Canada platform is another such promising program that can continue to build the industry. Likewise, the Canadian Aerospace Strat- egy must include an overarching national space plan to guide decision-making. It must be balanced, sustainably funded with a long-term planning horizon, and pre- dictable in its implementation. Doing things in space is no longer a value-added activity. It is a must given the absolute reliance we have on space- enabled services. Whether it be the role of space in connecting us globally, keeping us safe while moving about our daily lives and engaging in commerce, or monitor- ing and acting on climate and environ- mental changes that can only be done from space, there is no disputing that space is an increasingly critical domain. Competition is good and the Canadian space industry has flourished because of it and our strong heritage in space. Sixty years have yielded many firsts in space for our nation. The future can be even bright- er, providing we work hard to regain our foothold. Canada has leading-edge space universities that rank among the best in the world. Canada excels in robotics, com- munications, and earth observation, to name just a few strengths. It's time for a clear set of national ob- jectives with a roadmap to maximize our hard-won leadership to ensure Canada continues to contribute to the society- wide benefits of space research and innova- tion. We must ensure Canada has a strong policy top cover, a strategy that focuses on its strengths, and a resilient plan to best realize it, regardless of the circumstances. With a skilled workforce that is the envy of the world, a robust export capacity, and a global reputation for cutting-edge innova- tion and technology, a Canadian Aerospace Strategy will secure and restore Canada's global leadership in aerospace, targeting the creation of new, high-value jobs, strategic R&D and cleantech innovation. Renewed government partnership is needed now and it doesn't need to be complicated. If we bring together industry and government while engaging provincial governments who are investing significant- ly in the labour market we can once again punch above our weight and contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery. As the re-elected Liberal minority gov- ernment, together with the opposition parties, lay out their priorities for the fu- ture we urge them to work with us on a Canadian Aerospace Strategy. Let's renew the partnership that built this sector into a global aerospace champion. Because meet- ing the challenges of today and the poten- tial of tomorrow will require collective ac- tion and multi-sectoral partnerships. Together, let's forge a new era of collab- oration, nation-building, and Canadian in- genuity in aerospace. Let's ensure Canada is a leader in aerospace – defence, civil, and space – for decades to come. Mike Mueller is President & CEO of Aero- space Industries Association of Canada. As part of a Canadian Aerospace Strategy, Canada too needs a Defence Industrial Strategy to ensure procurement continues to support the development of Canadian industrial capacity and capability.

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