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Or sign-in if you have an account.Duncan Phillips, left, senior manager of offsets and business development with Elomatic Consulting Inc., speaks with Sean Leet, chief executive officer of Horizon Maritime, at the 13th annual Maritime and Arctic Security and Safety Conference in St. John's on Monday, July 13. Advantage St. John’sNewfoundland and Labrador is ready to play a larger role in Canada’s defence future,and work is underway to make it happen.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 AccountorAbout one year ago, a group of representatives attending the annual Maritime and Arctic Security and Safety (MASS) Conference in St. John’s came together to work on the idea that Newfoundland and Labrador needed to tell a stronger, more coordinated story about its place in Canada’s defence future.That effort has culminated in a collaborative initiative called Ready at the Edge, which was officially launched on the opening day of the 13th annual MASS conference in St. John’s on Monday, July 13.SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: FP West: Energy Insider brings you behind the oilpatch’s closed doors with exclusive insights from insiders every Wednesday morning.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. 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Please try againSpearheaded by Advantage St. John’s and the St. John’s Board of Trade, Ready at the Edge brings together businesses, industry, government, labour, Indigenous partners, researchers and community leaders to advance the province’s role in Canada’s national defence plans.The initiative promotes Newfoundland and Labrador’s strategic location, industrial capabilities, workforce, research strengths and partnerships as Canada builds increased defence capacity in the North Atlantic and Arctic.AnnMarie Boudreau, chairperson of the committee behind Ready at the Edge and the St. John’s Board of Trade’s chief executive officer, said the initiative is both “necessary and helpful” for the province, which she said has “a serious and legitimate role to play” in the country’s defence.“Canada is making major decisions right now — about sovereignty, security, supply chains, infrastructure, and industrial readiness,” said Boudreau. “Those decisions will shape work, investment and opportunity for decades. Newfoundland and Labrador should not be an afterthought in them.”Newfoundland and Labrador is situated on the eastern edge of North America, strategically close to the Arctic, Greenland, Europe and allied maritime routes.In terms of capacity, Boudreau noted the province has deep-water ports, airfields, services that include marine fabrication and repair capabilities, along with critical transportation infrastructure.The province is already renowned for its advanced cold-ocean experience, ocean technology expertise and world-class testing environments.It also has more than 14,000 skilled tradespeople and a workforce experienced in complex marine, construction, energy and industrial projects, as well as research institutions, Indigenous partnerships and companies that already know how to operate in the harshest of environments and how to support sustainable growth and long-term development.“Ready at the Edge brings those pieces into one story and it gives government, industry, and federal decision-makers a practical way to see where this province fits, what we can contribute, and where we can build,” said Boudreau. AnnMarie Boudreau, chairperson of the committee behind Ready at the Edge campaign and St. John’s Board of Trade’s chief executive officer, addresses the 13th annual Maritime and Arctic Security and Safety Conference in St. John’s on Monday, July 13. Advantage St. John’sRecent defence decisions have given the initiative new urgency, but she said the opportunity is bigger than any one project.“It is about being at the table early — before the major decisions are made and the supply chains are set,” she cautioned.“Everyone in this room knows the opportunity is larger than any one company or institution. If we act alone, we compete for pieces. If we act together, we can help define the role this province plays.“For a long time, being at the edge meant being far from the centre. In this moment, the edge is becoming the front. Newfoundland and Labrador is not peripheral to Canada’s future. We are essential to it.”The July 13 launch included the unveiling of the campaign’s brand and website, www.readyattheedge.com, and Ready at the Edge will be featured throughout the MASS Conference, which runs until July 16.It will also be promoted nationally and internationally through engagement with defence contractors, federal decision-makers, allied partners, and industry leaders. Energy and Mines Minister Lloyd Parrott delivers comments on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador at the 13th annual Maritime and Arctic Security and Safety Conference in St. John’s on Monday, July 13. Advantage St. John’sEnergy and Mines Minister Lloyd Parrott, who also addressed the conference on Monday, said Ready at the Edge’s message could not be timelier.“Newfoundland and Labrador is already a strategic defence asset for Canada, with a long record of delivering on national defence and security priorities,” said Parrott. “Federal investment must recognize that reality and build upon it.“This campaign, led by leaders from industry and academia, sends a strong message about the role our province can play in strengthening Canada’s defence capabilities. A message that is backed by real strategic advantages and a workforce ready to deliver.”He said critical infrastructure and strategic assets in St. John’s, Gander and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the latter of which already supports NORAD operations over the northern and northeastern coasts of Canada, are becoming increasingly important to Canada’s national defence and Arctic presence.“(5 Wing Goose Bay’s) location offers accessibility to the sea during summer months and proximity to the Arctic, making it essential for Canadian and allied defense activities, especially in the Arctic region,” noted Parrott.Beyond the military presence, said Parrott, true Arctic and northern sovereignty also requires strong communities, modern infrastructure and opportunities that allow people to live, work and thrive.“Newfoundland and Labrador is fortunate to have people with the skills, experience and determination needed to help build Canada’s next generation of defence industries,” he said.Parrott singled out Newfoundland and Labrador-based companies such as Kraken Robotics, Virtual Marine, Genoa Design and PAL Aerospace as having the sort of capabilities needed to support modern defence priorities while also creating opportunities across a range of commercial sectors.A floating drydock at the Bull Arm site, promised to Newfoundland and Labrador through a $200-million fabrication fund that is part of the Bay du Nord offshore oil and gas development project agreement, will also be a crucial part of the Ready at the Edge package, said Parrott. The Bull Arm Fabrication Site spans more than 25 square kilometres, comprising 10 kilometres of roadways and 20,600 square metres of fabrication facilities and marine infrastructure. – Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador website Photo by Tracy Law /Contributed“Once operational, it can support offshore activity, ship repair and maintenance, marine fabrication and maintenance requirements for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard,” he said.“By aligning with federal fleet renewal, Arctic capabilities and maritime security priorities, it drives real investment into our marine, technology and defence infrastructure. That means lasting economic growth and a stronger strategic role for our province in Canada’s defence future.”According to Parrott, Ready at the Edge isn’t about the province’s potential but the capacity that is already in place or coming soon.“The expertise is here, the talent is here, the innovation is here and the ambition is certainly here,” he said. 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.