Bernard Derible has been named Ontario’s first Military Defence Representative, a role aimed at promoting the province’s defence sector internationally. (Photo: Ontario government)
The Ontario government has appointed a Canadian Armed Forces veteran as the province’s first Military Defence Representative, a new role aimed at promoting Ontario’s defence industry internationally and attracting investment to the province.
The government says Bernard Derible will promote Ontario’s defence sector abroad, help connect companies with international partners and identify opportunities for defence-related investment.
The appointment comes as Canada and its allies plan to significantly increase defence spending in the coming years, creating new opportunities for companies involved in military equipment, aerospace and advanced technologies.
The new position is intended to help Ontario companies compete for those opportunities while positioning the province as a trusted supplier of defence equipment and technology in global markets.
Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said the role will help ensure Ontario benefits from the growing global demand for defence manufacturing and technology.
“With Canada and its allies making investments into the defence sector at a scale that has not been seen since the height of the Cold War, Ontario’s Military Defence Representative will ensure that the province’s economy stands to benefit,” Fedeli said in a statement.
The province says Ontario’s defence sector currently includes more than 300 companies and employs about 13,000 workers across industries such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing and technology.
Ontario says its defence sector includes more than 300 companies employing about 13,000 workers across the province.
Officials say Derible will promote Ontario’s defence capabilities in allied markets while also identifying investments that strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply chains.
The government says the role will also support Ontario’s bid to have Toronto selected as the headquarters of the proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, a multilateral institution designed to finance defence and security projects for NATO members and allied nations.
If Toronto were chosen to host the bank, the province says the project could bring about 3,500 direct jobs to Canada.
Derible previously served as a senior officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and has worked with international organizations including the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
He currently serves as Ontario’s Agent-General in Southeast Asia, based in Bangkok, and will continue in that role while also carrying out his new responsibilities.
The government says the Military Defence Representative position will be unpaid and fulfilled within the ministry’s existing budget.
