Thursday February 19, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social trends
“It was great to meet with federal Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty to discuss Canada’s National Defence Industrial Strategy, a conversation that felt both timely and urgent,” says Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth
McGuinty was in Victoria today along with Commander of the Royal Navy, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee.
The meeting was also attended by federal Member of Parliament Will Greaves (Victoria) and local MLA Darlene Rotchford (Esquimalt-Colwood) who is BC’s Parliamentary Secretary for Armed Forces Development and Veterans Affairs to the Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth.
Kahlon told media yesterday that he gives “two thumbs up” to the National Defence Bank bid in Vancouver and that the meeting would include discussion about shipbuilding and technologies like life science, AI and quantum expertise that could help from a national defence perspective.
Joining the meeting were Parliamentary Secretary Darlene Rotchford, Victoria MP Will Greaves, and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee
Kahlon called the assembled group as “deeply committed to Canada’s defence future”.
“We aligned on a clear message: now more than ever, a united front on national defence is essential for Canada. Threats to our sovereignty and security don’t wait, and neither can we,” said Kahlon.
Kahlon says the national defence commitment aligns directly with BC‘s LookWest Economic Plan, which recognizes that a strong national defence and a resilient British Columbia economy go hand in hand.
Kahlon described the meeting as a “thoughtful dialogue”. which demonstrated a “shared commitment to getting this right”.
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NEWS SECTIONS: ECONOMY | JOBS & EMPLOYMENT | NATIONAL DEFENCE | MILITARY & DEFENCE