News
Minister praises Western Canada’s aerospace industry
Sept. 15, 2011, London, U.K. - The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, recently attended the DSEi (Defence and Security Equipment International) Exhibition in London to demonstrate the Government of Canada's continued support for Western Canada's aerospace and defence sector.
September 15, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
"The DSEi exhibition is an excellent venue to promote Western Canada's vibrant and growing defence sector," said Minister Yelich. "Our Government is proud to support job creation and long term growth in this sector, which continues to excel in innovation on the world stage in air, land and marine defence."
An important element of Western Economic Diversification Canada's (WD) work is to promote and connect western Canadian industry to international aerospace and defence contractors with Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) obligations. Minister Yelich used the DSEi exhibition as an opportunity to engage multinational companies that have significant business interests in Canada.
While at the exhibition, Minister Yelich was able to see western Canadian innovation firsthand at the product launch of Weatherhaven Global Solution's Tactical Redeployable Expandable Container Configuration (TRECC). TRECC is an expandable shipping container that can be configured into facilities such as a command centre, kitchen, or mobile hospital to meet changing needs. This new product was specifically designed to fit inside a Boeing CH-47 helicopter. And, with more than 1,200 of these helicopters in service or on order around the world, this provides a significant market opportunity for Weatherhaven, a manufacturer of shelter and shelter systems from British Columbia. TRECC can also be carried on a light truck, which opens up further possibilities for deployment and further potential markets.
The western Canadian aerospace and defence industry is a competitive, vibrant and growing sector that supports the employment of about 27,000 people, generates over $4.5 billion in annual revenues and contributes more than $2.5 billion to Canada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since 2006, WD has contributed over $37 million to help the western Canadian aerospace industry improve productivity and innovation, and to develop safer aerospace technology and equipment.
The DSEi Exhibition promotes itself as "the world's largest fully integrated defence and security exhibition" since 1999. The 2009 exhibition attracted over 25,000 visitors, including 1,280 exhibitors from 40 countries, 70 official delegations from 49 countries, and 27 national pavilions. The exhibition is held biannually in London, United Kingdom alternating, with the Eurosatory International Exhibition in France.
