Area MP hosts major defence funding announcement

Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis (left) and Defence Minister David McGuinty speak with a Colt Canada employee following a $307 million defence procurement announcement in Kitchener. Lee Griffi photo

By Lee Griffi

Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis hosted a pair of Canada’s top military officials last week for a funding announcement at a weapons maker.

Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr and National Defence Minister David McGuinty announced the awarding of a Defence Investment Agency contract to Colt Canada. The company will provide up to 65,402 assault-rifle systems, a move the federal government said will reinforce the recently announced Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and its commitment to invest in Canadian innovation. The contract is worth $307 million.

“Today’s announcement reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the Canadian Armed Forces have the capabilities they need to protect Canadians and contribute to global security,” said McGuinty.

“By investing in modern, reliable tools and working with a trusted Canadian partner, we are supporting the operational readiness of our armed forces while strengthening Canada’s defence industry and the skilled workforce behind it.”

The Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR) project will be delivered through two phases. Phase 1 includes procuring 30,000 general service (GS) rifles over three years. Phase 2, which is expected to begin in four years under an optional provision, will involve the remaining 19,207 GS rifles, 16,195 full spectrum (FS) rifles, as well as associated systems.

This contract provides a modern replacement for the current C7/C8 assault rifle fleet, which has been in service for more than 35 years. The company has already ramped up its production and has hired several new employees. A total of 70 jobs are expected to be created at Colt and 80 per cent of the materials going into the rifles are Canadian.

Louis praised the announcement and added arming soldiers with the weapons they need is crucial.

“The fact that every member of the Canadian Armed Forces will have the support they need from Canada being made right here in our region is something to be proud of. We are protecting our soldiers and they're protecting Canada,” said Louis.

The Marc Carney government has been criticized for making a lot of announcements but not actually achieving anything. Louis said this is an example of getting boots on the ground immediately.

“I think things are being done. You heard the minister say we are ahead of schedule on defence spending and that's something you don't always hear in announcements like this. I think the government realizes the importance of moving faster.”

Louis added whether it's industrial, military procurement, or major projects, which is the portfolio he’s working on, the government is finding ways to be more nimble.

“It's working together, finding out what needs to be done more efficiently and moving forward quickly. I think that's something Canadians expect us to do. I think that's something we're doing.”

Fuhr said the government’s goal is to spend 70 per cent of the defence budget in Canada.

“We want to energize Canadian industry as best we can to stimulate our own economy. Obviously, we have been very reliant on our neighbour to the south for years. We will still work with that neighbour, but we need to be much more resilient and less reliant than we were in the past.”

He added selecting Colt as the supplier of rifles for the Canadian military was an easy choice.

“This is a weapon that met the requirements of the army, and this is the weapon they wanted. It is made here in Canada and there are many more things I could say as to why this procurement really is a flagship example of what we are trying to do as we move into the future.”

Fuhr said the government’s goal is to create 125,000 new jobs over the next 10 years in the defence and security space.

Another defence spending announcement was made in Ingersoll the day before the Kitchener press conference. A total of $305.4 million in financial assistance is being given to IMT Precision in Ingersoll to build a new manufacturing facility capable of producing empty metal shells for 155-millimetre artillery projectiles.

The government said the move will boost Canada’s sovereign ammunition production capacity, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.