Canadian Firms Seek Missile Defense Contracts

U.S. military officials will meet next week with Canadian defense industry representatives to discuss contracts for the Pentagon’s missile defense system (see GSN, Feb. 24).

Canadian firms are looking into business opportunities with the Pentagon, said Norbert Cyr, vice president of communications for the Canadian Defense Industries Association, which is organizing the event.

“Since the (missile defense) program is going ahead in the U.S., we thought it was worthwhile to look at what opportunities there might be for Canadian companies,” Cyr said.

Industry officials said discussions don’t necessarily mean that Canada is ready to sign on to the program, according to the Ottawa Citizen.

Negotiations between Canada and the United States on the missile defense shield, set to debut this fall, are ongoing. Prime Minister Paul Martin is likely to sign on to the system, but analysts say that probably won’t occur until after a federal election, according to the Ottawa Citizen.

Canadian companies could receive about $1 billion worth of business, creating about 10,000 jobs, if Canada signs on, according to an association report (David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen, March 11).

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