When most people think about Canada’s growing defence industry, they picture aircraft, military vehicles and advanced technology.
They don’t think about production companies, post production companies and screen industry suppliers.
They should.
Some of the largest defence investments in Canadian history are now underway, and several of them have a significant Saskatchewan presence. They won’t just require engineers and manufacturers—they’ll also require communications, marketing, education, training, animation, simulation, photography, video production, post-production and digital media.
For Saskatchewan’s screen industry, this represents an opportunity to diversify into a stable, long-term market that many companies have never considered.
Saskatchewan is becoming an important part of Canada’s defence industry
One of the biggest developments is the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program.
Awarded to Canadian company SkyAlyne—a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace—FAcT is a 25-year program that will modernize how Canada’s military pilots and aircrew are trained. Saskatchewan is at the heart of that effort.
15 Wing Moose Jaw will remain one of Canada’s primary military flight training centres, with major investments in aircraft, simulators, infrastructure and training systems. The program will support operations in Moose Jaw for decades and will involve an extensive network of suppliers providing everything from specialized aviation services to professional and creative services.
For Saskatchewan companies, that’s important.
Large defence programs don’t operate in isolation. They rely on hundreds of suppliers and subcontractors, many of whom provide services far removed from aircraft maintenance or engineering.
That’s where Saskatchewan’s creative sector comes in.
There is more opportunity than you might think
The defence industry requires far more than technical manuals and military equipment.
Companies regularly purchase services such as:
- Corporate and promotional videos
- Television commercials
- Recruitment campaigns
- Public engagement campaigns
- Documentary production
- Training and instructional videos
- E-learning content
- Motion graphics and animation
- 3D visualization
- Photography and drone videography
- Interactive media
- Virtual and augmented reality experiences
- Simulation content
- Graphic design
- Accessibility services, captioning and translation
- Event production and livestreaming
Many of these are services Saskatchewan production companies already deliver every day.
In many cases, promotional videos, commercials and branded content produced for Saskatchewan-based organizations may also qualify under Saskatchewan’s Film & Television Production Grant (FFTV), making local production even more attractive. To qualify for the FFTV, a commercial or advertising production needs to be created for public distribution outside of Saskatchewan, have a minimum budget of $100,000, and be for a company or organization that isn’t owned or controlled by the Saskatchewan government.
Understanding the opportunity
If you’ve never worked in the defence sector before, you’ll quickly encounter a number of new acronyms. Fortunately, there are only a handful of programs you really need to understand.
Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB)
Perhaps the most important concept is Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy.
When the federal government awards major defence contracts, successful prime contractors are required to generate economic benefits in Canada. One of the primary ways they do this is by purchasing goods and services from Canadian businesses.
That means you don’t need to become a defence contractor.
You simply need to become a supplier to companies that already are.
For production companies, this could include communications, marketing, video production, photography, animation, digital learning, public engagement and other creative services.
Learn more: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/industrial-technological-benefits/en
Future Aircrew Training (FAcT)
The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program is one of Canada’s largest long-term defence initiatives.
Although the program centres on military pilot training, it also encompasses simulation, instructional design, communications, digital learning, facilities, stakeholder engagement and supplier development.
SkyAlyne is actively encouraging Canadian businesses to register as potential suppliers, and its supplier opportunities extend well beyond aviation-specific work.
Learn more:
- Royal Canadian Air Force – Future Aircrew Training (FAcT): https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/working-for/training-professional-development/fact.html
- SkyAlyne: https://skyalyne.ca
IDEaS – Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security
If your company develops new technology—or is exploring AI, virtual production, immersive storytelling, simulation, digital twins or interactive learning—Canada’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program is worth watching.
IDEaS funds Canadian innovators developing solutions to defence and security challenges and regularly issues competitive calls for proposals.
Potential areas of interest for Saskatchewan’s creative industries include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Interactive media
- Virtual production
- Simulation
- Virtual and augmented reality
- Training technologies
- Digital twins
- Data visualization
- Immersive storytelling
Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas.html
Procurement Assistance Canada
If you’ve never sold anything to the federal government, don’t worry—you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Procurement Assistance Canada provides free support to Canadian businesses looking to enter the federal procurement system. Their advisors can help you:
- Register as a supplier
- Understand procurement processes
- Find opportunities
- Prepare competitive bids
- Learn how government purchasing works
Their services are free and designed specifically for businesses that are new to government procurement.
Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-services-procurement/services/procurement-assistance-canada.html
Don’t overlook STEP
If there’s one organization Saskatchewan companies should connect with early, it’s Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP).
STEP has made defence, aerospace and security an important area of focus and regularly organizes trade missions, networking opportunities, supplier development workshops and export support for Saskatchewan businesses interested in these sectors.
Rather than trying to navigate the defence industry on your own, STEP can help you understand the market, connect with the right people and identify upcoming opportunities. STEP also provides access to trade missions, supplier matchmaking, export advice and introductions that can help Saskatchewan businesses establish relationships with major defence contractors.
Learn more:
- STEP Website: https://sasktrade.com
- STEP Events: https://sasktrade.com/events
Indigenous procurement is creating additional opportunities
Many defence procurements now include Indigenous participation commitments.
In the case of the Future Aircrew Training program, SkyAlyne has established an Indigenous Relations program focused on building partnerships with Indigenous businesses and communities as part of its long-term supplier strategy. Many major defence projects now include Indigenous procurement objectives as part of their Industrial and Technological Benefits commitments.
For Indigenous-owned production companies—or companies interested in partnering with Indigenous businesses—this creates another pathway into the defence supply chain.
Learn more: https://skyalyne.ca
Getting started
Breaking into the defence market isn’t about waiting for the perfect Request for Proposal. It’s about positioning your company before opportunities arise.
A good roadmap looks like this:
- Register your company with SkyAlyne as a potential supplier.
- Contact STEP and let them know you’re interested in defence and aerospace opportunities.
- Register for updates from IDEaS and Procurement Assistance Canada.
- Attend supplier briefings, defence industry conferences and networking events as they are announced.
- Start introducing your company to prime contractors and major suppliers.
- Think beyond traditional film and television production. Position your company as a provider of communications, education, training, animation, simulation, interactive media, digital content and marketing services.
Why now?
Canada has committed to significantly increasing defence spending over the coming years, with new investments in military readiness, Arctic sovereignty, aerospace, cybersecurity and innovation.
Unlike many industries, defence procurement moves on long timelines. Major projects are often awarded for 20 to 30 years, and prime contractors begin building their supplier networks well before contracts are fully operational.
Companies that establish relationships early—registering as suppliers, attending industry events, meeting procurement officials and introducing themselves to major contractors—are far more likely to be considered when opportunities arise.
Waiting until a Request for Proposal is issued is often too late.
The most successful suppliers are the companies that have already demonstrated their capabilities, built relationships and become known within the defence ecosystem.
A market worth exploring
Canada’s renewed focus on defence, aerospace and Arctic sovereignty is creating opportunities well beyond traditional defence industries.
For Saskatchewan production companies, post-production facilities, animation studios, VFX houses and interactive media developers, this is an opportunity to bring existing expertise into a new and growing market.
You already know how to tell stories, educate audiences, create compelling visual content and communicate complex ideas. Those are valuable capabilities in the defence sector.
Whether your company produces commercials, documentaries, branded content, animation, training videos, interactive media or post-production services, now is the time to begin exploring this market.
The companies that start building relationships today will be best positioned to benefit as Canada’s defence investments continue to grow over the next several decades.