Discussing Alberta’s Defence Procurement Opportunity
On December 1st, Alberta Counsel supported a full day of discussion and engagement with stakeholders active in, or seeking entry into, the defence sector. The event was the result of two months of coordinated planning with partners including Alberta Aviation, Aerospace, and Defence (AAD). Programming featured an in-person morning roundtable, an afternoon webinar, and an evening mixer.
Each component was designed to encourage informed dialogue on current defence opportunities for Albertan companies in the province and in the North, the compliance and accreditation requirements that firms must meet when entering the sector, and the steps the province can take to support broader participation.
The presence of senior figures such as former Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay and former United States Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller contributed to a high level of engagement and helped ground the discussion in practical experience and strategic insight.
The day’s events began with a keynote address delivered by Peter MacKay at the Edmonton Unlimited event space. Reflecting on the current state of defence in Canada, MacKay’s speech highlighted the imperative that exists for Canada to engage across sectors and provinces to ensure that the nation’s defence forces are equipped to confront contemporary threats to security and sovereignty.
This theme was aptly continued into the next session, a fireside discussion on the current requirements and opportunities that exist in both military specific and dual infrastructure projects in Northern Alberta and the Arctic. Panellists highlighted the strategic weight that Northern and Arctic infrastructure currently carry for Canada in addition to the role that Alberta plays in supporting such projects. Also highlighted throughout this discussion was the tangible economic benefits for companies, communities, and the wider province if these projects are pursued.
Transitioning into the second fireside discussion, the topic of economic opportunities for Albertan companies was discussed within the realm of certification and compliance for companies seeking to engage in defence contracting. Key takeaways for this discussion included the importance of optimizing process and documentation for any company seeking to participate in parts manufacturing for defence production.
Morning activities concluded with facilitated breakout groups. Stakeholders from across government, private, academic, and non-profit sectors engaged with Alberta Counsel facilitators to discuss three questions:
1. How can the government best support the growth of the defence sector and SMEs, both provincially and federally?
2. How can industry collaborate to strengthen sector growth?
3. What feedback would you give on the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration Mandate Letter?
In the course of discussing these questions, groups highlighted how they felt that both the federal government and province had to do better collectively at engaging in and supporting the defence economic ecosystem. The results of the breakout group discussion are currently being processed for production to into a whitepaper by the Alberta Counsel team.
Following the in-person events of the morning, Alberta Counsel hosted a webinar with both Peter MacKay and Christopher Miller to recap and further explore the results of the morning (Watch Here). Over the course of this discussion, both speakers highlighted the importance of recognizing how in light of a changing global landscape, evolution in warfare, and a growing need to decentralize defence production, Alberta stands uniquely positioned to do so.
The day concluded with AAD’s mixer event hosted in the Alberta Counsel lounge. With its expansion into the defence sector in August 2025, Alberta AAD now represents more than 150 defence specific or adjacent companies in addition to those already in aerospace and aviation. AAD’s facilitation of the networking opportunity during the evening effectively represents the wider role that the organization plays in coordinating and developing the defence community within the province.
Overall, the December 1st defence investment day demonstrated that there is a clear and growing interest among Alberta based stakeholders to engage in defence-based initiatives. The strong turnout, active engagement throughout the various sessions of the day, and general feedback indicate that companies, communities, and stakeholders across the province recognize the economic and strategic values of aligning Alberta within Canada’s larger defence requirements.
Alberta Counsel and its partners in the space will continue to support the defence sector in the province through a variety of engagement, advocacy, and research in the near future.