Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeTransportationAutosWindsor-Essex manufacturers get foot in door of Canada's growing defence sectorDefence Minister says Canada's largest automotive hub is well-positioned as Ottawa ramps up spending You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.David J. McGuinty, Canadian Minister of National Defence leaves a forum at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Dan JanisseManufacturers in Canada’s largest automotive hub have started building relationships with prime defence contractors as Ottawa ramps up spending on the domestic supply chain.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorWhile visiting the region to attend an event Monday morning, Canada’s Minister of National Defence David McGuinty said Windsor-Essex is well-positioned to help make defence one of the county’s three largest industrial sectors over the next decade.“Windsor-Essex has a deep, deep history, a depth of talent,” McGuinty told reporters. “I think about half of North America’s concentrated expertise in this region has had a huge bearing on the success of the country, the auto sector and beyond. This is the kind of depth of talent we want to pivot to help us implement our defence industrial strategy.” David J. McGuinty, Canadian Minister of National Defence speaks to reporters at a forum at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Dan JanisseGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againDuring several break-out sessions hosted at the Ciociaro Club of Windsor, around 200 representatives from 50 local companies met with prime contractors including Boeing, Bombardier, and General Motors Defence to learn about future opportunities.Under Canada’s new defence industrial strategy, McGuinty said the first priority is supplying the Canadian Armed Forces with domestically produced equipment.“The world has changed,” he said. “The threat landscape has changed. We can no longer in Canada assume that we are protected by our geography. We have malign actors that are with intentions to do malign things to this country, want to divide democracies, want to weaken democracies.”The proliferation of domestic spending, he added, will also help Canadian companies compete in a rapidly expanding global market, especially the Europe Union, which is expected to spend nearly $1 trillion on defence procurement by the end of the decade.“Europe is now in a different mind space,” said McGuinty. “It realizes that it’s got a real challenge on the Ukrainian front with the Russians, who seem not to be willing to cease and desist.” David J. McGuinty, Canadian Minister of National Defence speaks to reporters at a forum at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Dan JanisseCanada manufacturers are already seeing opportunities in the defence sector. Over the last six months, Export Development Canada has financed 80 export deals worth about $1.5 billion where there was previously minimal activity, McGuinty said. He added that opportunities exist in areas such as building ammunition and weapons systems, armoured vehicles and supplying parts to larger companies.Most manufacturers in Windsor-Essex already have what they need — equipment, infrastructure and a skilled workforce — to participate in the defence sector, said Louis Jahn, president of the Canadian Tooling and Machining Association (CTMA), which represents around 250 members, mostly in Ontario.According to Jahn, the next step is for companies to understand the procurement process, obtain certifications to ship “controlled goods” and begin developing relationships with prime contractors.There's a hunger there to look for new opportunities, new sectors to work inHe estimates it will take most companies around “six months to a year minimum” from starting the process to securing their first purchase order.Jahn, who is also the president of Jahn Engineering Limited, a Tecumseh-based tooling and equipment company servicing automotive and heavy trucks, said his biggest barrier to entering the defence sector has been a lack of connections.“We don’t have these relationships currently,” he said. “It takes a long time to develop those relationships. They’ve got to know what we’re about, they’ve got to know what we do, we’ve got to know what they do. Then we can find a spot for us to fit in.”Bringing five prime defence contractors to Windsor eliminated one of the biggest challenges for smaller manufacturers, said Sandra Pupatello, a former longtime Windsor MPP and Ontario Liberal cabinet minister who helped organized Monday’s event.“There’s a hunger there (in Windsor-Essex) to look for new opportunities, new sectors to work in,” Pupatello told reporters.“There are some Windsor companies that are already in the defence sector. If one can do it, 100 can do it. Because the spend is so huge, billions of dollars every year . . . then it’s a really important time to get in on the ground floor.” Canadian Senator Sandra Pupatello speaks to reporters at a forum at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Dan JanisseShe said Canada’s commitment to meet its NATO defence spending target means procurement opportunities will continue for years.Brian Bendig, president and CEO of Windsor-based Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing, said the company has been eyeing opportunities in the defence sector for years.“In the last number of years, we’re just not as busy as we once were,” said Bendig. “There’s not as many opportunities, and looking at where the future is going, we’re considering defence to fill that gap.”Bendig said business has slowed significantly in recent months following adjustments to Section 232 tariffs on non-U.S. metal content in moulds.“It’s quite slow right now,” he said. “Our quote volume is 30 per cent of what it should be. We’re down that much in just quoted opportunity.”The slowdown has made room for the company to begin taking on defence contracts, although Bendig said the process will take time.“Our plan would probably be like most,” he said, “start small, understand it, know what it is, find the niche that we do well and expand that niche.”Monday’s event was co-hosted by the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.