Manitoba-Canada Defence Alliance unveiled

Despite Ottawa’s promises of increased defence spending, Jack Enns has seen slowdowns.

Tit-for-tat tariffs between Canada and the United States have lessened demand for some of A. Adams Supply (1969) Ltd.’s products, the firm’s general manager said.

The Winnipeg company ships specialized tools to aerospace manufacturers, metalworkers and transport firms.

More clients could be useful — and so would local companies winning defence contracts, Enns said. If that happened, vendors such as A. Adams Supply may get more orders, boosting business.

“It’s the very basic trickle-down effect,” Enns said.

Late on Tuesday, the provincial government announced its launch of the Manitoba-Canada Defence Alliance, seeking to draw defence sector investment into Manitoba.

The entity combines government, private sector, the Canadian Armed Forces and post-secondaries. It’s eyeing the $81.8 billion Ottawa promised over five years, in its 2025 budget, for national defence and security spending.

The alliance also aims to draw private investment, said Paul Soubry, the group’s co-leader.

“(We’re) trying to align all of the interests in one roadmap and provide that clearing house role, but also a matchmaking role,” Soubry said. “We’re playing that air traffic control, facilitator, awareness, educator role to make sure that Manitoba gets more than its share of federal spend.”

Soubry led StandardAero, an aerospace manufacturer, before heading NFI Group for 17 years. He retired at the beginning of 2026 but has remained part of the premier’s business and jobs council. He also sits on the provincial government’s U.S. trade council.

The new alliance was sparked following the federal government’s plans to boost defence spending, Soubry said.

Work has mainly involved pulling members into its steering committee. Upwards of 15 people have been tapped; they’ll meet monthly and share information more regularly.

There are representatives from all three levels of government, including the federal Prairies Economic Development Canada. (City representatives of both Winnipeg and Brandon are expected.)

Officials from Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg/17 Wing and the North American Aerospace Defence Command are on the list, as are aerospace companies Boeing, StandardAero and Magellan Aerospace.

A range of non-profits and post-secondaries are involved, including the Winnipeg Airports Authority and University of Manitoba.

Planning to attract investment is just beginning, Soubry said. The alliance held its first meeting last month.

Soubry mentioned flagging opportunities to Manitoba businesses and contacting companies outside the province. A more detailed rollout plan should come in the next three to six months, he said.

“We’re thinking about looking for generational investments,” he added.

The provincial government slated $320,000 for the alliance this year, to be funnelled through the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. Money will increase to $600,000 over the next two years via existing agreements with the CME, a provincial government spokesperson said.

Cash will be used to hire an alliance director and to promote Manitoba, according to the CME.

Manitoba Aerospace will co-lead the initiative. It represents more than 40 companies.

Business Minister Jamie Moses said he doesn’t expect the alliance to stifle competition.

“By supporting and working together, it really effectively helps to ensure that notion of ‘(The) rising tide raises all boats,’” Moses said. “It’ll raise the competitiveness of all Manitoba companies in this space.”

The alliance won’t prioritize a specific company, and firms must do their own business development, Soubry said. StandardAero expressed support for the alliance in a statement.

Manitoba’s aerospace industry employed 4,840 workers last year, according to a Winnipeg Economic Development and Tourism webpage.

That workforce will make Manitoba competitive with other provinces, Moses said. He didn’t share investment targets, saying the first step is to “bring people around the table.”

“We need to tell our story, and we need to get out there,” said Beverlie Stuart, Manitoba Aerospace’s chief executive. “We want to ensure that we’re at the table.”

Some members of the alliance, such as the Business Council of Manitoba and CentrePort Canada, are represented on the premier’s business and jobs council.

A Manitoba government delegation will visit Toronto next week for the Canada Investment Summit, which is expected to attract sovereign wealth funds and global banks. The alliance will follow up on leads from the event, Soubry said.

Konrad Narth, the Progressive Conservatives’ economic development critic, called the alliance “empty virtue signalling” from Premier Wab Kinew.

“Our aviation defence sector deserves more than an aspirational news release coupled with a meagre $320,000 investment,” Narth wrote in a statement.

He accused the New Democrats of “riding the coattails” of the Carney government at the expense of “what could be a major opportunity for economic growth and national autonomy.”

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham applauded the alliance and Soubry’s leadership, saying the former chief executive is a “catalyst” and can pull companies and government together.

— with files from Joyanne Pursaga

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com