Federal investment to boost defence industry projects in Nova Scotia

The federal government says it is investing more than $4 million to support defence-related projects in Nova Scotia as part of efforts to strengthen Canada’s defence industry and supply chains.

In a news release Thursday, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency said the funding will support nine projects through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative, a program aimed at helping businesses grow and develop technologies for global defence markets.

The announcement was made by Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the minister responsible for ACOA.

Officials say the investment will help companies in Nova Scotia develop and manufacture critical equipment and technologies while creating 24 highly skilled jobs and strengthening Canada’s defence and security supply chains.

The Regional Defence Investment Initiative is part of the federal government’s broader Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to align long-term defence spending with industrial capacity, support Canadian businesses and modernize the country’s defence ecosystem. Officials say the program is intended to help small and medium-sized businesses expand, adopt advanced technologies and increase Atlantic Canada’s role in the defence sector.