In this new world, defence strategy is now economic strategy
Defence must become a central part of Canada’s economic strategy as geopolitical tensions make supply chains, critical minerals, infrastructure and technology increasingly important to national security, says CIBC CEO Harry Culham. He argues that Canada’s planned defence investments could create a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen domestic industries, particularly through dual-use projects and support for small and medium-sized defence companies. “We know that nation-building in our time will not look like the nation-building of the past. While focus is oriented toward physical infrastructure, it is also increasingly moving toward strategic capacity in technology, energy, critical minerals and defence,” Culham writes, noting CIBC is committing $2 billion in capital to help finance defence-related small and medium-sized enterprises.
