Canadians Demand Homegrown Defence, Prioritizing Arctic Sovereignty

OTTAWA, ON – May 21, 2026 – A groundswell of public opinion is calling for a fundamental shift in Canada's defence policy, with citizens overwhelmingly demanding investment in a homegrown defence industry and expressing a strong aversion to reliance on American military suppliers. A new national poll reveals a public deeply concerned with national sovereignty, particularly in the Arctic, and confident in the ability of Canadian companies to meet the nation's security needs.

According to research released today by the Alliance of Canadian Defence Companies (ACDC), a staggering 82 per cent of Canadians believe the country must be able to "defend itself without relying too heavily on other countries." The poll, conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights, surveyed over 3,000 adults and found a clear and consistent message across all demographics and regions: the future of Canadian defence should be made in Canada.

This sentiment translates into a stark preference for domestic suppliers. When asked about who should build Canada's defence systems, Canadian-owned companies received a net support rating of +74, with Canadian-controlled firms close behind at +65. In sharp contrast, American defence companies, even those with Canadian subsidiaries, scored a deeply negative rating of -19. This finding suggests a public mandate that goes beyond simple economics, touching a nerve of national identity and self-determination.

"The polling makes clear that Canadians understand sovereignty cannot depend on others," said Eliot Pence, co-chair of the ACDC, in a statement accompanying the results. "Canadians know our history of innovation and industrial leadership once gave us greater control over our own destiny, and there is a growing desire to build that capacity again."

A Public Mandate for the Defence Industrial Strategy

The poll's findings provide a powerful tailwind for the Government of Canada's existing Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), a policy framework designed to leverage defence procurement to create domestic jobs and foster innovation. The same percentage of Canadians who support self-reliance—82 per cent—also back the DIS's promise to prioritize Canadian suppliers. This alignment between public will and stated policy creates significant pressure on Ottawa to accelerate the strategy's implementation.

With the government having recently met its NATO defence spending target of 2% of GDP and pledged to increase it to an ambitious 5% by 2035, the stakes for how that money is spent have never been higher. The poll suggests Canadians see these billions not as a blank cheque for foreign military hardware, but as a strategic investment in Canada itself.

"What we're seeing is that defence procurement is a Canadian sovereignty issue," stated Paul Ziadé, co-chair of ACDC. "We need to build defence equipment here to ensure Canada is not dependent on foreign suppliers and that taxpayer dollars support skilled jobs and manufacturing across the country."

This perspective is reinforced by other recent polling. A 2026 Nanos survey indicated that 64 per cent of Canadians prioritized job creation in defence procurement over simply securing the best price, signaling a public appetite for using defence spending as a tool for national economic development.

The Arctic Imperative

The driving force behind this surge in defence nationalism appears to be the vast, remote, and increasingly contested Canadian North. The ACDC poll found that the single most important defence priority for Canadians is "being able to protect its land in the north," with 83 per cent calling it important. This focus on Arctic sovereignty decisively outweighed other concerns, including meeting international defence spending commitments, which 71 per cent deemed important.

This priority is not just an abstract concept; Canadians have specific ideas about how to achieve it. Three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents support purchasing Canadian-made drones and sensors to monitor the country's remote Arctic areas. This support is consistent across the country, indicating a national consensus on the need for technologically advanced, domestically produced surveillance capabilities to assert control over northern territories.

The public's focus aligns with significant government investments in NORAD modernization and the deployment of new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships. The poll results suggest a clear expectation that Canadian companies should be at the forefront of providing the technologies for these initiatives, from advanced radar systems to unmanned vehicles tailored for the harsh northern climate. Furthermore, 70 per cent of Canadians expressed confidence that domestic firms can build equipment of the same quality as their international competitors.

Navigating a Complex Alliance

While the push for a 'Made in Canada' defence policy is clear, it introduces potential complexities into the nation's most critical alliance. The deeply negative public perception of US defence suppliers (-19 net support) represents a significant challenge to the traditionally integrated North American defence industrial base. A decisive shift away from American suppliers could create friction with Canada's closest ally and partner in NORAD and NATO.

Defence analysts note that interoperability—the ability of allied military forces to use each other's equipment and procedures—is a cornerstone of collective security. A strong pivot to unique Canadian systems could complicate joint operations and training exercises with the United States. This sentiment is not new; a late 2025 Nanos poll found that 62% of Canadians disagreed with buying military equipment from the United States, indicating this is a persistent public view.

The challenge for Ottawa will be to navigate this delicate balance. The government must respond to a clear public demand for industrial sovereignty and economic benefits while maintaining the deep and essential defence cooperation that has defined its relationship with the United States for decades. As Eliot Pence noted, the public expects their funds to be used to build globally competitive Canadian companies, not as a grant, but by making the government a primary customer. The message from the Canadian public is unambiguous: they are ready for a new era of self-reliance, and they expect their government to deliver it.