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Unlocking Domestic & Defence Market Opportunities
Manufacturing Excellence Forum - Barrie
EMC’s special half-day forum will bring Canadian manufacturers together with industry leaders, stakeholders, government, and solution providers to explore new domestic growth opportunities emerging from Canada’s increased investment in defence, infrastructure, housing, and mining, alongside trade, tariff, and supply chain shifts.
The focus is practical, actionable insights – helping manufacturers replace imports with domestic production, access new B2B markets, strengthen supply chains, and build the capabilities required to scale.
Agenda
7:30 AM – Registration & Networking Breakfast
Connect with fellow manufacturers, supply chain partners, speakers, and sponsors – full breakfast included.
8:00 AM – Opening Remarks: Manufacturing Resilience & Growth in a Changing Economy
Welcome and context-setting from EMC leadership, framing the day around domestic opportunity creation, supply chain resilience, and the critical role manufacturers play in Canada’s economic future.
8:30 AM – Workshop: Defence Sector / Domestic Supply Opportunities for Canadian Manufacturers
An expert-led session outlining where manufacturers fit within Canada’s growing defence, infrastructure, construction, and resource-related supply chains. This session will feature:
- Bernie Derible – Ontario’s Agent General ASEAN and Military and Defence Representative
9:30 – 10:00 AM – Networking Break
10:00 AM – Panel Discussion: How Manufacturers Are Successfully Entering Defence & Domestic Supply Chains
Manufacturers share real-world experiences entering or expanding within domestic (West-East), defence, infrastructure, and industrial supply chains.
10:45 AM – Concurrent Sessions
A) Cybersecurity Regulations for the Defence Sector: As cybersecurity becomes a prerequisite for participating in defence supply chains, manufacturers must navigate an evolving landscape of regulatory requirements and compliance frameworks. This session will provide a practical overview of key cybersecurity expectations tied to defence contracts, specifically the CMMC (U.S.) and CPCSC (Canada). Attendees will gain insight into what these compliance frameworks are, common challenges organizations face to align their operations with regulatory requirements, what’s required for certification and where to start, enabling organizations to securely access and compete in defence supply opportunities.
B) Controlled Goods Program, by Dominic Dubé, Education Program Officer, Controlled Goods Program, Government of Canada.
A high-level overview of Canada’s Controlled Goods Program and its relevance to organizations and individuals who may handle controlled goods. It will explain what controlled goods are, how to determine whether goods fall under the program and clarify who is required to register and who is not. The presentation will also define three key concepts – examine, possess, and transfer and outline two critical roles within the program and the responsibilities associated with each. Finally, you will be provided a walk through of the registration process and required documentation.
11:45 AM – Lunch
12:30 PM – Networking Roundtable Sessions
- A) Invest Barrie
- B) Controlled Goods
- C) Finance
- D) Cybersecurity for Defence
1:30 PM – Adjourn
Event Partners:
Manufacturing Excellence Forum - Barrie
Hosted by EMC.
