p.e.i. creates expert panel aiming to build up its defence sector, contribute to federal defence strategy
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p.e.i. bioalliance ceo lauren ledwell, left, economic development minister jenn redmond, defence strategy expert panel chair tom dunne, premier rob lantz, standard aero senior aerospace leader lindsay power and retired lt.-cmdr. allan a. dale., attended a slemon park press conference to announce the creation of the panel.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
slemon park, p.e.i. — as the canadian government begins to invest more heavily in defence, p.e.i., too, wants to do its part and build up its own defence sector.
on thursday, june 18, members of the provincial government and those involved in the aerospace field announced the launch of the defence strategy expert panel.
it aims to identify the province’s strengths, what opportunities there are in the defence sector, both nationally and internationally, including potential partnerships, and recommend supports for island companies looking to enter the defence industry.
the panel was created in the aftermath of federal initiatives, like canada’s defence industrial strategy and the creation of the defence investment agency. it aims to help strengthen the workforce, as well as finding out what role the province can play in the federal defence strategy.
economic development minister jenn redmond, left, retired brig.-gen. tom dunne and premier rob lantz announced the launch of the defence strategy expert panel on june 18. the aim of the panel is to identify the province’s strengths and where there is room to grow, to boost the economy and its role in defence.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
the announcement comes just over a month after the provincial and federal governments announced a combined $110 million in funding for mds coating technologies, another slemon park-based aerospace company.
“i think, if you ask people across the country, they wouldn’t identify prince edward island with aerospace or defence,” said premier rob lantz, at the press conference held at standard aero.
“but here at a facility today, it’s easy to see that we’re definitely in that game.”
premier rob lantz says he is excited to be strengthening p.e.i.’s role in defence, boosting the province’s economy as well as playing a role in the national defence strategy.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
the panel consists of seven experts in the industry, from innovation, business and defence, and lantz said he is excited to see what recommendation comes out of the eventual report. p.e.i., he added, can contribute to federal defence just like every other province.
“aerospace, biotechnology, information technology, these are our strategic sectors that governments have been focusing on for years, to diversify our economy, to build upon our traditional resource-based economy,” he said.
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“as we’ve seen, we’re having great success. so where there’s success, we’re willing to continue investing. this is just another step to identify exactly where we fit into a larger national strategy.”
tom dunne chairs the panel. he has a background in aviation, having been flying since 1991, and, three years ago, retired from the royal canadian air force as a brigadier general.
“we’re planning a series of meetings with witnesses from different departments and sectors to better understand the growing businesses that are on the island,” said dunne.
“to better understand the support structures that exist already, with things like acoa and the atlantic canada aerospace and defence association, and what we can do to help better support businesses that want to branch out into defence.”
retired brig.-gen. tom dunne will be chairing the newly formed seven-person defence strategy expert panel.
kristin gardiner
/
journal pioneer
dunne added that canada is presently embracing the need for sovereignty, in terms of defence, and every province, including p.e.i., has something to contribute.
“i think it’s important because prince edward island is a small province, and it needs to understand how it can fit in with this defence ecosystem,” said dunne.
“a lot of islander companies may not know how they can best fit in with ottawa and defence companies. we can help offer the government solutions, offer the government recommendations as to how they can enable these companies to move forward.”
the panel is expected to present its report to the province by the end of 2026.
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kristin gardiner is a reporter for the journal pioneer in prince edward island. she can be reached at kgardiner@postmedia.com.
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