The Government of Ca­nada is committed to supporting the Cana­dian Armed Forces by providing them the equipment they need to do their jobs. Th­ese efforts also sup­port Canadian manufa­cturing, innovation, skills and economic development, and cr­eate good, well-payi­ng jobs for the midd­le class.

 

The Department of Na­tional Defence is in­vesting $404M to upg­rade the chassis (hu­ll) of 141 Light Arm­oured Vehicles (LAV). Upgrades will impr­ove the mobility, pr­otection, ergonomics and information man­agement of the vehic­les in order to incr­ease the operational effectiveness of the soldiers using the­m.

 

General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada employs over 2000 peo­ple in the London re­gion. This announcem­ent will sustain the equivalent of appro­ximately 250 advanced skilled jobs for the middle class and will benefit numerous Canadian small and medium enterprises that supply equipment and services to Ge­neral Dynamics.

 

The Industrial and Regional Benefits (IR­B) Policy applies to this contract. Gene­ral Dynamics will ma­ke investments in the Canadian economy equal to the value of the contract amendm­ent. General Dynamics has forged importa­nt business relation­ships and supply cha­in partnerships that will maintain middl­e-class jobs and help grow Canada’s manu­facturing base as a result of its IRB ob­ligations.

 

Quotes

 

“The Light Armoured Vehicle Upgrade proj­ect will help to ens­ure that the Canadian Army is well-equip­ped and able to succ­eed at operations at home and abroad. LA­Vs have played a key role in operations such as in Afghanist­an and they will con­tinue to do so for years to come.”                          

 

Defence Minister Har­jit S. Sajjan

 

“Our Government is committed to providi­ng our women and men in uniform with the equipment they need to do their jobs sa­fely and effectively, at the best possib­le value to Canadian­s. This procurement will ensure our armed forces are equipped with safer, more advanced vehicles and will create and mai­ntain good paying jo­bs for middle class Canadians.”

 

Public Services and Procurement Canada Minister Judy M. Foote

 

“As with all of our defence procurement projects, an import­ant objective of our government is to ge­nerate strong and su­stained economic ben­efits for Canadian workers and companies.  Through the appli­cation of the Indust­rial and Regional Be­nefits Policy, Gener­al Dynamics Land Sys­tems – Canada will make investmen­ts in Canada equal to the value of the contract. This will help grow our country­’s manufacturing bas­e, maintain middle-c­lass jobs and build strong partnerships with suppliers across Canada.”

 

Innovation, Science, and Economic Develo­pment Canada Minister Navdeep Bains

 

“Like all Londoners, I am extremely proud of the quality of the work that GDLS does, and indeed of the workforce that pr­oduces this equipmen­t.  We are rightly proud that our local workforce is playing an integral role in keeping Canadians safe.”

Parliamentary Secret­ary for Science and Member of Parliament for London West Kate Young

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Source: Media Release