In the wake of Ottawa's announcement of a comprehensive new defense industrial strategy, manufacturing leaders from Windsor and Essex County are actively positioning themselves to capitalize on Canada's renewed focus on domestic military production. Thirty executives from the region are embarking on a strategic visit to Mississauga to explore how local businesses can secure roles in the expanding aerospace and defense sectors.
Strategic Visit to Aerospace Manufacturer
The delegation's destination is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Canada Aerospace Inc. (MHICA), a prominent tier-one manufacturer in Ontario that specializes in assembling major aircraft components. This visit represents a concrete step toward understanding the requirements and opportunities within Canada's defense supply chain.
The timing coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent unveiling of Canada's defense industrial strategy, which aims to significantly boost domestic production across multiple military domains. The strategy encompasses everything from naval vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, and ammunition to advanced aerospace technology and artificial intelligence systems.
Local Manufacturing Capabilities
"I think it's a great opportunity," emphasized John Hodgins, president and CEO of Acrolab Ltd., a Windsor-based thermal engineering solutions company with deep roots in the community since 1948. "At the end of the day, one of the challenges is that we don't really have a defense industry in Canada anymore."
Hodgins, who is participating in Friday's tour, sees the federal government's renewed commitment as a pivotal signal for Canadian industry. "Based on what we've seen over the last year, with Canada's commitment to spending more on defense, that's a really good signal for Canadian industry generally, and manufacturers, that we can now lean forward and develop the capabilities here, domestically, within our own country."
The executive highlighted Windsor-Essex's manufacturing ecosystem, noting that Acrolab collaborates with numerous tool shops, mould/die shops, and specialized operations throughout the city. "We have the capability here to be able to build almost anything," Hodgins asserted with confidence.
Proven Track Record and Growing Interest
Acrolab brings relevant experience to the table, having previously worked on defense-related projects. Notably, in 1993, the company developed a specialized heat pipe cooling component that was utilized on NASA's space shuttle program, demonstrating its capacity for high-precision engineering.
This isn't the first exploratory move by local manufacturers. Last October, Hodgins was among a group that attended the Best Defence Conference in London, Ontario—an annual gathering focused on aerospace, defense, and public safety industries. Both the conference attendance and the MHICA visit were organized by Invest WindsorEssex's business retention and expansion team.
"The level of interest from local manufacturers is encouraging," observed Gordon Orr, president and CEO of Invest WindsorEssex, the region's lead economic development agency. Orr's organization has been instrumental in facilitating these industry connections as part of broader efforts to position Windsor-Essex for emerging economic opportunities.
Hodgins expressed optimism about the region's collective potential: "I think we have more than enough potential here in our region to be able to do this." As Canadian defense spending increases and the government prioritizes domestic production, Windsor-Essex manufacturers are positioning themselves to transform national strategy into local economic growth.
