Carney in Montreal to unveil $6.6B ‘Buy Canadian’ defence plan

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the beginning of a cabinet planning forum at the Citadelle in Quebec City, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

By The Canadian Press

Posted February 17, 2026 8:32 am.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Montreal Tuesday to officially release his long-awaited defence industrial strategy, a $6.6-billion plan aimed at boosting Canada’s domestic military production.

The “Buy Canadian” initiative promises to prioritize the construction of military equipment at home, increase the share of defence contracts awarded to Canadian firms, and create up to 125,000 jobs over the next decade.

The strategy also aims to support small and medium-sized businesses and encourage more companies to enter the defence sector.

Originally scheduled for release last year, the roadmap has faced multiple delays, only leaking to an international news outlet over the weekend ahead of today’s announcement in Montreal.

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