Defence Minister David McGuinty and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith visited Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton on October 7, 2026, to highlight approximately $8 billion in ongoing defence investments across Alberta.
The investments include:
- nearly $4 billion for future fighter capabilities at CFB Cold Lake;
- $750 million for a new Chemical and Biological Laboratory and Blast Assessment Centre at CFB Suffield;
- $550 million to establish the western operating base for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-330 Husky fleet; and
- over $580 million over the next three years for maintenance and repair work across Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) bases in Alberta.
According to the Department of National Defence, the investments are estimated to support approximately 29,000 to 38,000 jobs in Alberta over the next five to 10 years. The department also said defence investments contributed approximately $1.3 billion to Alberta’s economy in 2024-25, and that approximately 10,300 CAF members live and work in the province.
During the visit, McGuinty announced the re-opening of the Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace (DDIM) Request for Supply Arrangement, allowing more Canadian companies to pre-qualify to supply autonomous systems capabilities and related services to the department. To date, 30 Alberta-based companies have qualified as trusted suppliers under the DDIM.
McGuinty also announced over $8 million for seven projects administered through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) under the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, and the Regional Innovation Ecosystems program. The RDII is a $379.2 million, three-year national initiative aligned with the Defence Industrial Strategy.
Earlier in 2026, a University of Calgary-led consortium received $20.3 million over two years to establish and operate the Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub in Calgary.
McGuinty said Alberta’s military bases and infrastructure are essential to Canada’s defence, serving as training and logistics hubs that support CAF operations at home and abroad while generating jobs and supporting regional economic growth. He added that as Canada continues to “rebuild, rearm and reinvest” in the military, Alberta’s role will continue to grow.
In a separate statement, McGuinty said Confederation is a national bargain renewed through generations by what Canadians do for one another, particularly in wartime.
Sources: Canada DND Newsroom · Global News Canada