Canadian aerospace firms want Transport Canada to certify aircraft and parts faster, so production can keep up with higher defence spending. They say the current review times are holding back domestic orders the government has already decided to place.
Where the reviews are slowing work
Companies say the certification desk was not built for the volume of defence work now in the pipeline. A slow approval delays equipment the procurement plan already counts on. Safety is not the argument they are making against. They want the administrative review to match 2026 production schedules.
Why the industry went to Minister Joly
In July 2026, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly was the most-lobbied federal minister. She had been promoting Canadian aerospace at the Farnborough International Airshow and had been involved in investment announcements that included Pratt & Whitney Canada. Firms are asking her office to connect defence spending targets with the time it actually takes to clear a certification file.
What is at stake
Aerospace contributes more than $34 billion a year to Canadian GDP and supports more than 225,000 jobs. A stalled certificate does not stay inside one plant. The changes the industry is asking for are:
- A digital application, instead of a paper file.
- More technical reviewers at Transport Canada.
- A separate path for defence products.
- A direct line between the regulator and the manufacturer.
- Closer alignment with foreign certificates, so the same test is not repeated.
The model they want
Firms describe the current process as built for an earlier pace of design. They want a risk-based review that spends less time on low-risk changes and keeps the same safety bar on the rest. That is a staffing and process argument, not a request to drop the standard.
Related reading: New railway worker training rules aim to cut rail incidents and What Carney’s pitch for private investment could mean for major Canadian airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the industry lobbying Transport Canada?
Certification is slower than the defence orders now coming through, and companies say that delay holds up production.
Who was the most-lobbied minister in July 2026?
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly.
How large is the sector?
More than $34 billion a year in GDP and more than 225,000 jobs.
