The Ontario government announced Sunday an investment of nearly $2.6 million through the Trade-Impacted Communities Program that will support workers and industries across the aerospace and defence sectors.
The funding, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, was awarded to Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research, one of the delegates representing Ontario’s aerospace ecosystem at this year’s event. It will support a broader $3.2 million initiative aimed at protecting Ontario workers amid a shifting global trade landscape, advancing supply chain resilience and positioning small and medium-sized businesses to capitalize on rising defence spending.
“As Canada and its allies make generational investments in the aerospace and defence sectors, Ontario stands ready to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and unlock new partnerships for our highly-skilled workforce,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through the Trade-Impacted Communities Program, our government is proud to support Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research’s initiatives, which will further position Ontario companies at the forefront of global security projects while safeguarding our economic competitiveness.”
DAIR, incorporated in 2020, is a not-for-profit collaborative research and innovation consortium that brings together companies, academic institutions and research organizations from across Ontario to strengthen Canada’s global aerospace leadership. The funding will support the DAIR Green Fund, which advances new aerospace technologies through collaborative research, along with the Supplier Development Initiative and the Defence Readiness Program, which help small and medium-sized businesses improve their operations and meet the requirements needed to access defence contracts.
“The Government of Ontario has, and continues to be, a valued partner to DAIR as we work to strengthen the province’s aerospace and defence sector,” said Phil Arthurs, executive director of Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research. “This investment through the Trade-Impacted Communities Program will help DAIR support Ontario SMEs in becoming more innovative, competitive, and resilient by advancing collaborative R&D, strengthening manufacturing capabilities, enhancing defence readiness, and helping to mitigate the impacts of an increasingly uncertain global environment. We appreciate Ontario’s confidence in DAIR and look forward to delivering programs that support the organizations and partnerships that are advancing and growing our sector.”
The $40 million Trade-Impacted Communities Program is part of Ontario’s nearly $30-billion tariff relief and support plan, and is designed to help industries and communities disproportionately affected by global trade disruptions diversify their supply chains and reduce reliance on U.S. markets. The government says it has received more than 80 applications from communities across the province since the program’s launch and is actively assessing projects for consideration. Ontario’s aerospace industry employs more than 25,000 people across over 200 companies and supports nearly 24,000 indirect jobs, according to the province.
