Written by Gwen Black, Policy and Government Relations Manager, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Key Takeaways from General Jennie Carignan Conversation
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce was honoured to host General Jannie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, last month at our VIP Luncheon.
With Canada’s defence investment at a historic high, General Carignan shared her thoughts on the country’s evolving security environment, key defence priorities, and the mobilization of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Here are our key takeaways from the discussion:
- Protecting Canada will require more than boots on the ground. The Canadian Armed Forces are modernizing with a focus on space, cybersecurity, air and sea assets, creating new opportunities for Manitoba businesses to integrate.
- The CAF is building a network of operational hubs across Canada, some already in place in Iqaluit, Inuvik, and Yellowknife, to strengthen logistics, supply chains, and domestic capability. As investment ramps up, these hubs will drive demand across military and private industry for both physical and digital infrastructure, from housing and construction, to data and technology.
- The General pointed out that as this operational network establishes and expands, Canadian Armed Forces are working in close collaboration with local partners to explore dual-use initiatives that support our military and benefit the communities in which they’ll operate.
Continuing the Conversation
To build on the discussion with General Carigan, The Chamber hosted two private roundtables in partnership with Prairies Economic Development the following day, which gave businesses the opportunity to engage directly with the Department of National Defence.
The roundtables reinforced Manitoba’s position as a strong contributor to Canada’s defence and innovation ecosystem, with established capabilities across aerospace and biomedical sectors. Discussions reflected a shared interest in strengthening connections between industry and federal partners, supporting business growth, and ensuring regional strengths are well aligned with national priorities.
As the voice of Winnipeg’s business community, it is our privilege to bring together industry and government leaders for open discussions like these, and we will continue to seek out opportunities to demonstrate the strength of our members.
Help shape the voice of your Winnipeg Chamber – one of Canada’s eight largest Chambers and Manitoba’s leading business organization for six consecutive years and counting (Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Probe Research (Canada)).
Contact Gwen Black, Policy and Government Relations Manager, at [email protected] to learn how.
