Defence, innovation ministers team up to sell D.C. on merits of working with Canada

WASHINGTON — Canada’s defence and economic development ministers are in the U.S. capital this week to remind lawmakers and military contractors about the economic virtues of cross-border collaboration. 

Anita Anand and François-Philippe Champagne say now more than ever, the world needs a tag-team, U.S.-Canada approach to fortifying North America’s defence industrial base.

Anand says last week’s encounter with what U.S. officials insist was a Chinese spy balloon illustrates the urgent need to modernize Norad, the joint-command continental defence system. 

Champagne, meanwhile, is overseeing the rapid expansion of Canada’s nascent foray into critical minerals, a vital component of high-tech military equipment, as well as missiles and munitions.