Oshawa Should Be Part of Canada’s Defence Supply Chain

Oshawa Should Be Part of Canada’s Defence Supply Chain                By Dale Jodoin Columnist                                               When Canadians hear about military spending, the conversation usually turns to the biggest and most expensive equipment. Fighter jets. Warships. Drones. Missiles. Satellites. Artificial intelligence. Cyber defence. This technology is an important part of modern defence. No serious country can ignore new technology or the threats that come with it. Canada has to be prepared for a world that is changing quickly. But there is another side of the defence that receives far less attention. Every soldier still needs the basics. They need strong boots, warm clothing, rain gear, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, canteens, medical kits, field kitchens, clean water systems, uniforms, and protective gear. These items do not usually make headlines. They do not sound as exciting as a new aircraft or missile system. But without them, even the most advanced military can struggle. A soldier equipped with inadequate boots faces an immediate disadvantage. A unit without clean drinking water is in trouble. A person sleeping in wet gear during freezing weather will not stay healthy or effective for long. Before any high-tech military plan can work, the people carrying it out have to be clothed, supplied, sheltered, protected, and ready. Oshawa should focus on this aspect. Oshawa has a long history of manufacturing. This city appreciates skilled labour. It understands what happens when excellent jobs disappear. It also understands the importance of real work coming back to the community. For years, Canada has talked about supply chains. People witnessed how quickly shortages and delays could impact daily life during the pandemic. Products were held up. Shelves were thin. Items that once seemed easy to get became harder to find. Now imagine that problem during a military emergency. If Canada suddenly needed more boots, winter clothing, tents, medical supplies, or clean water systems, could we make enough of them here? Would we have to rely on foreign factories, face shipping delays, and contend with other countries putting their needs first? That is a serious question. This is not about turning Oshawa into a war factory. It is about asking whether Canadian workers and Canadian companies should have a larger role in producing the basic equipment our military needs. Not every defence job has to involve missiles, aircraft, or advanced computer systems. Many jobs are practical. Sewing. Cutting. Packing. Repair. Testing. Trucking. Storage. Supply work. Quality control. Those are real jobs. They are understandable jobs. They are the kind of jobs that can support families and strengthen local economies. Canada already has companies that understand outdoor gear, safety equipment, clothing, tools, parts, and cold weather products. As a northern country, Canada should be a leader in producing strong boots, warm coats, waterproof gear, durable tents, and reliable field equipment. This aspect of the defence shouldn't be considered an afterthought. This does not mean Canada should ignore advanced military technology. Drones, communications, cyber defences, surveillance, and modern weapons all matter. The world has changed, and Canada has to change with it. But technology is only part of the defence. The basics keep people going. History has shown that armies do not only run short of ammunition and weapons. They also run short of boots, coats, blankets, tents, food, fuel, medicine, and clean water. Those shortages may not sound dramatic, but they can weaken a force quickly. The public may notice the fighter jet. The soldier notices whether the boots fit. Oshawa should view the situation as both a defensive and economic issue. Defence dollars are already being spent. The question is where that money goes. Does it mainly flow to large foreign suppliers and major corporations, or can more of it support Canadian workers, Canadian factories, and Canadian communities? If Canada is going to spend money on defence, part of that spending should help rebuild practical industry at home. Oshawa has lived through enough economic change to understand the value of steady work. A strong local economy needs more than announcements. It needs industries that can last. It needs opportunities for people who know how to build, repair, move, test, and supply things. Canada should seriously consider the potential for domestic production of basic military equipment. Communities with manufacturing experience should be part of that conversation. Oshawa belongs in that discussion. A strong military is not built only on the newest weapons. It is built on preparation, supply, industry, and people. Sometimes the most important equipment is also the simplest.