Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2022 37 In 2022 and beyond, there's a need for THE LAST WORD BY MIKE MUELLER A strong, national aerospace industry supports a strong economy, strong communi- ties, and a strong, competi- tive Canada in the face of rapidly changing geopolitical challenges. There can be no doubt this is an indus- try that can, and must, be prioritized as a driver of our nation's economic and se- curity interests. Accordingly, it requires a long-term national aerospace strategy that renews the government-industry partner- ship, leverages our competitive advantages, and positions us to lead in the aerospace sustainability revolution. While geopolitical tensions have been steadily mounting, Canada's defence spending falls short of the NATO target of two per cent of GDP. Russia's unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine has forced an examination of de- fence and foreign policy with a focused at- tention on the need for Canada to have the means to play a bigger role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and continental defence within NORAD. There are encouraging signals in the steps the Canadian government is taking regarding NORAD modernization with our American ally. As recognized through Canada's Joint Statement on NORAD Modernization, to meet our security and defense objectives, both Canada and the United States must be secure within our shared North Ameri- can continent. The stronger and safer we are at home, the more we are capable of engaging and acting together in the wider world, in support of a strong, rules-based international order. Canada and the United States have long benefited from the protection afforded by North American geography. However, growing strategic competition, rapid ad- vancements in technology, and ongoing changes in our climate are eroding that protection, including by exposing North America to a greater and more complex conventional missile threat. NORAD modernization represents an opportunity for government to plan and align policy and investments with Cana- dian national security and industrial ob- jectives to ensure that Canada's aerospace A COMPREHENSIVE AEROSPACE STRATEGY sector plays a defining role in delivering capability, bolstering our arctic sovereign- ty and continental defence. SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A NATIONAL STRATEGY How do we ensure Canada maintains and advances its global leadership with the creation of new, high-value jobs, strategic R&D and Canadian innovation? Invest- ments in defence, sustainable aviation fu- els (SAF), electric engines and technolo- gies, hydrogen combustion and advanced aerodynamic designs will bolster our competitiveness in the global cleantech market, estimated to grow up to $6 Tril- lion by 2023. More collaboration is required to en- sure we seize the opportunities ahead. We need look no further than other com- petitor nations to see what is possible. For example, the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) is working actively with industry through their UK Aerospace Sector Deal, their National Space Policy, and their Defence and Security Industrial Top view of the cf-18 demonstration jet Photo: Derek Heyes

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