(Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie is ready to support Federal and Provincial efforts to attract new opportunities in the defence, security, and advanced manufacturing sectors, to help boost Canada’s military capabilities. Today, Mayor Alex Nuttall issued a Mayoral Direction to position Barrie as a leader in defence investment readiness.
This announcement was made at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CANSEC) annual conference earlier today. The conference is Canada's leading defence, security, and emerging technology event, and brings together companies from Canada and around the world to showcase the latest technology and services for military use.
“At a time when Canada and Ontario are strengthening its defence industrial strategy, municipalities are where that strategy turns into action,” said Mayor Nuttall. “Through this Direction, Barrie is taking clear steps to support and strengthen Canada’s sovereign defence capacity by aligning our policies, incentives, and processes to make it easier for this sector to grow. That means ensuring Canada has the ability to protect our people, our land, and our critical systems, with the capacity built right here at home. As part of Team Ontario, Barrie is ready to support that work and we’re ready to deliver.”
As part of a coordinated Team Ontario presence at CANSEC, Barrie is highlighting its strategic location, skilled workforce, employment lands, and streamlined approach to investment attraction to support continued growth in the defence and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The Mayoral Direction supporting the Provincial Defence Framework, will ensure that the City is ready to support Canada’s defence efforts by:
- Updating Barrie’s Zoning By-laws so that defence industries and sovereign-aligned uses are defined and accommodated.
- Creating fiscal incentives and support to attract defence industries, including the following:
- Adding a Sovereign Defence Investment Readiness Program to the City’s Employment Development Community Improvement Plan (CIP) program, to reduce development charges for sovereign defence industries—backed by an initial $50 million incentive to attract investment and accelerate development.
- Establishing a dedicated Defence and Investment Concierge Model to move projects from concept to completion quickly.
The Mayoral Direction is aimed at attracting and growing businesses that support Canada’s defence needs and supporting Ontario’s Defence Industrial Strategy, to boost the local economy and create jobs in Barrie. The City is strategically positioned to support Canada’s growing defence, dual-use, aerospace, and security industries. Barrie values its strong connection to Canada’s military community, past and present. With a long history alongside Canadian Forces Base Borden, and new investments in dual-use and defence technology advancement through the Sandbox Regional Innovation Centre, the City is ready to grow as a hub for defence industry manufacturing.
Barrie is also investing in technical skills–trades, engineering and mechatronics, computer science, applied research, and workforce partnerships with a clear goal; to support long term growth in both the defence and advanced manufacturing sectors. This includes a new $2.5 million investment in Georgian College over the next two years to strengthen defence-focused education as a military-connected college, and up to $20 million to support Lakehead University’s expansion in Barrie. Together, these investments are building the talent pipeline needed to power defence, and advance manufacturing growth. Barrie is taking action to build a workforce that is skilled, adaptable, and aligned with defence industry needs. The City is also supporting the Regional Innovation Centre to help local companies innovate, partner, and grow into defence supply chain opportunities. That work is helping prepare companies in Barrie and across the region to scale, compete, and contribute to opportunities in the defence sector.
Public notices are posted for the City’s Affordability Committee on June 17 to receive information and public input on the proposed updated Employment Lands Development CIP and the amendment to the Zoning By-law, to enhance Barrie’s strategic position and support Ontario’s defence industry. If members of the public would like to provide comments at the meeting, registration is required by emailing cityclerks@barrie.ca or calling 705-739-4220 x5500 prior to 12 p.m. on June 17.
About CANSEC
CANSEC is Canada’s largest defence and security trade show. The event is organized by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, representing more than 1,300 Canadian companies in defence, security, and emerging technology. This year’s conference focused on “Made Here, To Defend Everywhere,” highlighting Canadian defence industries’ contributions–current and potential–to national sovereignty.
For more information about Barrie’s defence sector, visit investbarrie.ca/defence.
Quotes
“We’re grateful to the City of Barrie for this additional $2.5 million investment in postsecondary education and Georgian College’s Barrie campus. This is a vote of confidence in our strength as a military connected college and programming that supports the defence sector. This investment also ensures local employers have access to well-trained and job-ready talent. Together, we’re strengthening Barrie’s position as a hub for innovation, skilled talent and long-term economic growth.”
-Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College
“As we expand Lakehead University’s presence in Barrie, the new STEM Hub represents far more than physical growth—it represents opportunity. Through increased access to university-level education close to home, we’re preparing students for in-demand careers across Barrie and the Simcoe County region, while helping to establish a regional corridor for applied innovation, research, and talent development. In partnership with the City of Barrie, we’re proud to support the region’s long-term economic growth and help shape a stronger future for the communities we serve.”
-Dr. Gillian Siddall, President & Vice-Chancellor, Lakehead University
“The Barrie Chamber strongly supports this announcement because it recognizes something we have been saying for some time: economic security and national security are now directly connected. Barrie and Simcoe County have a real opportunity to contribute to Canada’s defence industrial base through advanced manufacturing, aerospace, skilled trades, innovation, and regional supply-chain capacity. We should be moving quickly to connect local employers with procurement, partnership, and investment opportunities flowing from this strategy. Done right, this can mean more jobs, more innovation, and a stronger economic future for our region.”
-Paul Markle, CEO, Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce
“The Sandbox Centre, Ontario's newest Regional Innovation Centre, plays a key role in helping companies access and grow within the defence and dual-use sectors. With support from the City of Barrie and the Province, we’re strengthening the local innovation ecosystem and building connections across Canadian and U.S. defence ecosystems—working in collaboration with Fuse Ventures, a dual-use innovation platform, to link industry, government, military, and capital and help companies navigate and succeed in this complex market.”
-Dina Tzirakos-Hawker, Managing Director, Sandbox Centre