Canada has established a new Defence Investment Agency to centralize and accelerate procurement for the Canadian Armed Forces. The agency will also align defense spending with domestic industrial benefits, such as job creation and innovation in aerospace, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing.
By streamlining approvals and engaging early with industry, DIA aims to reduce procurement delays and strengthen Canada’s defense supply chains. The agency will also support closer alignment with allies like the U.K., Australia and France, positioning Canada to participate more actively in multinational initiatives such as the European Union’s Readiness 2030 plan.
Boosting the UK’s Defense Industry
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the initiative will ensure CAF receives critical equipment on time while boosting industrial capacity. “The new agency will bolster our defense industrial capacity, create new careers and ensure that in this new era, Canada’s leadership is not defined by the strength of our values, but also by the value of our strength,” Carney said.
The dynamics of global collaboration and supply chain regulations shaping opportunities in the defense sector will be among the topics for discussion at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit on Oct. 26. Join the conversation and secure your slot today.
Doug Guzman as First DIA CEO
Carney also announced the appointment of Doug Guzman, former deputy chair of the Royal Bank of Canada, as DIA’s first CEO. Guzman brings three decades of investment and finance experience, including senior roles at Goldman Sachs.
According to the new DIA chief, the agency offers a “tremendous opportunity” for collaboration between the government and businesses. “We will bring speed and simplicity to the process of arming our military while building Canada’s industrial capacity,” Guzman said.