Boeing has invested 61 million Canadian dollars ($44.4 million) in the British Columbian aerospace sector to support Ottawa’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft program.
The investment is part of Canada’s broader Industrial and Technological Benefits policy to boost the nation’s local industry as it procures 16 P-8As from Boeing through a US foreign military sales framework signed in February 2024.
The program is expected to support 3,000 roles and yield about 358 million Canadian dollars ($260.7 million) annually for the country’s economy in the next decade.
Research and Development, Training and Employment
The Virginia-based company said that 48 million Canadian dollars ($34.9 million) of the latest investment will be utilized to establish research and development capabilities at Boeing’s facility in Vancouver.
Future solutions at the site incorporate data analytics technologies, complex modeling, and machine learning platforms to enhance program management and sustainment of the Canadian military’s aircraft fleets at lower costs with higher performance results.
The remaining 13 million Canadian dollars ($9.4 million) will be allotted to construct a manufacturing competency center for aerospace firm COTA Aviation in Parksville.
The infrastructure will increase and diversify the workforce across the region by training up to 10 personnel annually with next-generation manufacturing equipment and robotic automation, with COTA aiding qualified workers in job placements at the end of their courses.
“This collaboration is a testament to Canada’s strength in the aviation industry and reflects Boeing’s commitment to the country where we have driven innovation for over a century,” Boeing Canada President Al Meinzinger stated.
“It’s wonderful to forge greater partnerships and growth in British Columbia where our journey began back in 1919, symbolizing our enduring dedication to shaping the future of aerospace in Canada.”
Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Program
Ottawa’s ongoing P-8A Poseidon acquisition, also called the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA), is an effort to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft operational since the late 1970s.
The service’s intent to commission the 129.5-foot (39.4-meter) spy plane was unveiled in February 2022. A procurement decision with Poseidon developer Boeing was then finalized in November 2023.
“Our incoming fleet of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft will provide our aviators with the tools that they need to protect our sovereignty – and at the same time, it is creating economic growth and good jobs for Canadians,” Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said during the recent British Columbia investment announcement.
“As our government invests more in defence, we are ensuring that these investments deliver real value for the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian economy, and Canadian workers.
“I thank Boeing for its work to deliver this new fleet of aircraft to Canada – and I welcome its major investments in British Columbia’s aerospace sector.”
