First Quebec Symposium on the Canadian Defence and Security Market

MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Nov. 24, 2014) - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today attended the first Quebec Symposium on the Canadian Defence and Security Market, an event that brought 17 major contractors and representatives of 177 businesses and organizations together in Montréal.

Quick facts

• The Symposium on the Canadian Defence and Security Market is an initiative of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, organized in partnership with STIQ and Aéro Montréal. The aim of the event is to gather together leading players in the defence and security industry in Canada and abroad and to position Quebec, its enterprises and its research centres at the forefront of defence and security business opportunities.
• Minister Lebel addressed participants on, among other things, Canada's Defence Procurement Strategy (DPS) and the principal changes to the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy.
• On the strength of its key manufacturing and technological industries in the fields of aerospace, optics-photonics, simulation and information technology, Quebec has all of the assets needed to capitalize on the industrial and technological benefits in defence and security and to integrate global value chains in the sector.
• The defence and security sector makes a direct and indirect contribution of $9.5 billion to Canada's GDP, $2.3 billion of it in Quebec alone. The sector, by its very nature, is also a major creator of high-quality jobs.

Quotes

"It is essential that the contractors eventually selected for the work packages under the Defence Procurement Strategy know about Quebec's enterprises and about their skills and know-how. These meetings initiated by our government are an excellent starting point for building long-term business relations."

Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"STIQ supports the initiatives put in place by Canada Economic Development to encourage the participation of Quebec businesses in the Canadian defence and security industry. We are very proud to be a co-organizer of this first edition of the Symposium, a forum that is sure to help manufacturers become better equipped to conquer a promising market."

Normand Voyer, President and CEO, STIQ

"The symposium allows us to position Quebec enterprises among the leading international players in the defence and security sector. These programs generate major economic spinoffs for our sector while sustaining innovation and creating high-quality jobs in aerospace. This sector is one of the important work sites in our sector, which is why we have re-established the National Security and Defence Working Group. We are making it our duty to guide Quebec aerospace companies in their development of Canadian military procurement programs."

Suzanne Benoît, President and CEO, Aéro Montréal.

Related links

For further information

On the DPS: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/stamgp-lamsmp/sskt-eng.html

On the ITB: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/agency/itb/index.html

On the QEDP: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/programs/qedp/index.html

Aéro Montréal Website: http://www.aeromontreal.ca/homepage/

STIQ Website: https://www.stiq.com/en/home

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