If you are reading this, then you have probably spent a good deal of time on the deck of a boat. As anyone who has spent any time at sea understands, things can change – quickly.
What are calm waters on the outset of the voyage can suddenly rise and become unpredictable from one moment to the next. It has recently become clear that the same holds true for certain geopolitical alliances. Canadian maritime defence operations, which traditionally benefited from trusted allies and foreign resources, are facing isolationist attitudes and unpredictable, more costly supply chains.
However, these challenges are now inspiring national defence policy-makers to pay more attention to the capabilities in our own backyard, offering a golden opportunity for regional marine technology companies to work toward a common goal.
Dependency Dilemma: How Reliance Threatens Sovereignty
The Canadian defence landscape has traditionally been deeply intertwined with American technology and supply chains. This relationship, originally justified by shared interests and priorities, now exposes Canada to acute vulnerabilities. Our persistent reliance on foreign defence systems, especially US derived technology, poses significant risks to our national security.
Article 5 of NATO’s North Atlantic Treaty written in 1945 defines the principle of collective defence. This states that an armed attack against one or more member countries is considered an attack against all members, thus obligating all member states to respond collectively. This is the founding principle to the treaty.
Today, there is much speculation among military leaders that should the Arctic approach be compromised, and a crisis ensue, how many NATO nations would stand up and honour the treaty?
This uncertainty is the klaxon call and should be a call to action. As one defence insider notes, “[Canada is] liable to [the US President’s] mood swings that have drastically changed the relationship” continuing, “the rhetoric throws doubt on the fidelity and trust.”
The lessons of Ukraine have hit home: when crisis strikes, allies may not be in a position (or willing) to provide critical support. Canada cannot necessarily assume streams of equipment and support from abroad in the face of a true emergency. Real security, then, means a sovereign supply chain and indigenous capabilities, especially in core functions like surveillance, communications, frontline platforms, and critical combat management systems.
By identifying and investing in our own niche defence technology strengths, such as advanced navigation systems, Canada can both reduce its vulnerability and strengthen its position in a rapidly shifting global security environment, while building our own economic muscle. Additionally, establishing a fully sovereign supply chain is widely regarded as essential for safeguarding Canadaʼs autonomy and resilience.
Money
Domestically, attitudes have changed as well. According to a recent Abacus poll, “62% of Canadians strongly or somewhat support the announcement of increased defence spending” marking a significant increase from even one year prior. But even more telling is that support for an immediate halt of military purchases from the US has risen to 56%.
As these proverbial tides have turned, and public opinion toward defence spending has changed, investments toward innovation and development of marine surveillance systems are already burgeoning. Former Canadian Minister of Defence Bill Blair, responding to these tectonic global shifts, has pivoted and modernized the Trudeau-era “Strong, Secure, Engaged” defence policy with a strong focus on internal resilience. Coupled with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s focus on market diversification, securing the Arctic, and building Canada, this shift is vital.
The “renewed” policy, politely christened, “Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence,” offers CAD$1.4 billion over the next 20 years toward the acquisition of maritime sensors to conduct ocean surveillance. This investment level was eclipsed in the June announcement where $9 billion is being allocated in “playing catch- up”; on salaries, estate, and property; and the remainder on new capabilities aligned with market and supply chain diversification.
This Canadian investment is more than just maritime security funding; it is an opportunity for us and our peers to contribute to Canadian sovereignty. This $1.4 billion injection is plenty to get things going, but with Canada having agreed to spend 2% of GDP on defence by 2023 and 5% by 2035, there is a lot more capital on the horizon.
One of the key core objectives in the policy update is “to acquire new capabilities to deal with new threats.” This bodes well for R&D initiatives and companies looking to offer innovative technology to antiquated military systems, of which nationwide number more than 25 Canadian-owned IP development companies from coast to coast to coast.
Small but Mighty
Canadian academic and commercial organizations have the most to offer and know these waters well. We work, play, and shepherd our seas. Our collaborative and close-knit marine community is deeply connected to one another across disciplines, operations, and research areas. It is this interconnected community that is our strength. It is our best defence.
Canada’s marine defence strategy is undergoing a necessary transformation, shifting away from reliance on large, traditional surface combatants that are increasingly vulnerable to emerging threats such as drone swarms.
Instead, strategic focus is turning to the deployment of smaller, distributed, and autonomous systems that are better suited to protecting Canada’s vast maritime territory and responding flexibly to threats in the Arctic and beyond.
This approach leverages Canada’s technological edge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced marine sensing, with our domestic industries developing world-class decision support tools for Arctic navigation and domain awareness. By integrating AI with hardware, Canada is positioned to leapfrog traditional surveillance methods, enhance real-time threat detection, and secure a resilient advantage in modern maritime security.
A Solution to Procurement and Granting Bottlenecks
Sloth-like bureaucracy and opposition to change are perennial problems. This inertia continues to slow innovation and makes it difficult for Canada to keep pace with rapidly evolving technological and strategic challenges.
One innovative approach gaining attention in Canadian military circles is the adoption of private defence providers or consortia to deliver surveillance as a service. In this model, private industry supplies not only the required technology but also ongoing support, with the government paying access or licence fees instead of committing to costly asset purchases.
Responsibility for upgrades, maintenance, and technological improvements rests with the service provider, allowing the Canadian military to benefit from continuously modernized systems without the delays and expense of traditional procurement.
While still hypothetical in Canada, this solution could significantly ease government capital spending and streamline procurement cycles, making defence capabilities more adaptive and responsive to emerging threats.
With this funding becoming more readily available, the bureaucratic obstacles identified, and the marine expertise in house, it is now time to build a “Coalition of the Capable.”
The Coalition of the Capable
You may have noticed a strange occurrence at every ocean technology and defence conference you attend. Many companies and individuals tend to connect abroad more readily than they do at home. You have to travel 4,800 km to spark a connection with your neighbour. It takes two capable companies to be in a completely different environment to realize they have cross-functional and complementary capabilities. We need to align at home.
Collectively aligning Canadian marine technology operators with complementary supporting technologies toward a nationally focused challenge would give our sector and nation a significant advantage. For example: the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project seeks to deliver a new submarine platform to Canada by 2035. This is great and long overdue. They will be technologically advanced ships that preserve Canadian sovereignty for 50 years.
However, what do we do in the 10 years from now until delivery? A Coalition of the Capable can provide robust autonomous marine security in the form of stationary observation platforms (floating and subsea) along with autonomous patrolling from Victoria, BC, to Halifax, NS, via Churchill, MB, providing near real-time observational and threat assessment data. We need to utilize the best of Canadian technology and work together to solve the problem for Canada and Canadians. We can do this.
Allies, Partnerships, and Smart Sourcing However, we cannot do it alone. Isolationism is neither realistic nor desirable. A move toward defence sovereignty must be nuanced. Instead, a European model is garnering appeal: build domestic strengths, source mature technologies from like-minded allies, and reciprocate with industrial and training capacity.
Relationships with European defence firms like Thales and Leonardo are based on mutual benefit, technological exchange, and a degree of resilience not always present in the US relationship. This approach echoes Canada’s historic role during the Second World War as a training and production hub for the Commonwealth – a strategy of focus and leverage.
Conclusion
Atlantic Canada’s niche strengths in marine defence and surveillance are rooted in indigenous innovation: sovereign navigation systems, combat management platforms, cutting-edge underwater robotics, AI-powered situational awareness, and robust sensor fusion technologies. These capabilities are driven by a mix of seasoned multinational primes, agile startups, and collaborative ecosystems.
The region is not only defending Canada’s maritime frontiers but also exporting our expertise globally and shaping the next wave of marine domain awareness. Coupling this with amazing technology from the West coast, and the broader Canadian defence supply chain – with European derived specialities where required – would deliver economic, security, and market building benefits for years.
It also shows Canadaʼs commitment to a sustained and prosperous Arctic region.
By assembling a Coalition of the Capable, we will protect Canadian sovereignty as threats and technologies evolve. It is an investment in Canada, Canadians, and our shared values, security, and sovereignty. It is time to work together: who is “in”?
