OTTAWA — Canada has established a new federal procurement body, the Defence Investment Agency (DIA), aimed at streamlining the process and avoiding delays in acquiring military equipment.
Stephen Four, the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, announced that the new system is expected to help the Canadian Armed Forces meet their operational needs more quickly. This action fulfills a key election promise made by Prime Minister Mark Carney to simplify the procurement of military hardware and reduce persistent delays.
The DIA will operate under the purview of Public Services and Procurement Canada, and will be led by former Royal Bank of Canada executive, Doug Guzman.
This move is anticipated to aid in boosting military capabilities, aligning with Canada’s commitment to spend two percent of its GDP on national defense. Although the initial plan was shelved in 2019 following the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is now realizing the agency, recognizing the critical need to reform and modernize the long-delayed defense procurement system.
