[guavadelic]

It's not just the banks. There's substantial defence companies, research and academia in southern Ontario. There's an airport that connects to more commercial centres and NATO capitals than any other.

I'd say Montreal is probably second. Vancouver and Ottawa are the long shots.

Toronto's the favourite, but Ottawa's mayor has been lobbying heavy for Ottawa arguing that the structure of the bank makes a location in the nation's capital the most ideal.

But the Ottawa city source said the DSRB will be structured in the same manner as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, with countries acting as clients.

Because of this, it would make more sense for Ottawa or the broader National Capital Region — with its concentration of embassies and the centre of Canada’s diplomatic community — to serve as the headquarters, the source said.

“It’s not a commercial bank per se. The IMF was set up in [Washington] D.C., not New York, and that was done on purpose, obviously. So that’s kind of the same approach that we’re taking in terms of why we feel that Ottawa-Gatineau is really the only choice for it.”

https://www.ipolitics.ca/2025/12/17...upport-for-torontos-bid-for-new-defence-bank/

 

[EBT]

An interesting new poll from Nanos shows that willingness of Canadians to serve in CAF in case of a major armed conflict had doubled in the past year:

View attachment 727421

View attachment 727422

I don't know how anyone could reply to this survey without knowing what is meant by "if Canada were involved in a major conflict". There are countless conflict scenarios. For example, what if Canada joined the United States in its illegal, unprovoked war of aggression with Iran (done at the behest of Israel)? Would Canadians be more inclined or less inclined to enlist for a war like this?

In a CBC interview last week, Carney said he was in talks with European NATO members to form what Carney called "a coalition of the willing" to open up the Strait of Hormuz. Considering that not even the US Navy dares to enter the Strait of Hormuz or come within range of Iran's Carrier-killer missiles, it would be more like a "coalition of the suicidal".

On the other hand, if by "involved in a major conflict" means that Canada was under attack and being invaded, then yes, I would expect overwhelmingly young Canadians would rush to enlist. Of course, in that scenario, the United States would be the only plausible invader. This scenario is not so far-fetched. On Friday, Carney said that Canada would not leverage oil or vital minerals in trade negotiations. I suspect the reason Carney said that is he is afraid that if he did that, Trump would order an invasion of Canada to "take the oil". The same day it was announced a new oil pipeline to the US which will increase exports by 12%.

 

[kEiThZ]

Toronto's the favourite, but Ottawa's mayor has been lobbying heavy for Ottawa arguing that the structure of the bank makes a location in the nation's capital the most ideal.

View attachment 733525



https://www.ipolitics.ca/2025/12/17...upport-for-torontos-bid-for-new-defence-bank/

They can be frustrated all they want. The bank is about enabling capacity growth investments in defence companies. Having a bunch of embassies near by is far less useful than having a bunch of bank HQs within walking distance.

Ford probably shouldn't play favourites. But then again the feds have made stupid and politically driven decisions that screwed over Ontario. NATO DIANA in Halifax. 2 Wing in Bagotville.

 

[EBT]

I am trying to understand what a "defense bank" is exactly. From what I understand, 19 NATO countries are part of the initiative, but their identity is not public. What is publicly known is NATO countries UK, France, USA, and Germany are not involved in this mystery initiative in any way shape or form. If they were how likely is it that Canada would be selected for the headquarters of this international bank. How many billions is this bank going to cost us?

Canada has three big URGENT military procurement needs:

1) Drones
2) Drones
3) Drones

I haven't seen any news on how Carney is trying to meet these urgent needs. Canada excels in the area of aerospace in fact we punch above our weight. Why haven't we seen big announcements of contract awards to Canadian companies to build drones including anti-drone technology as well as air defense systems, heavy artillery etc.? Instead, we are getting a "defense bank". Canada is not a serious country.

 

[Full Metal Junkie]

Canada is not a serious country.

You are welcome to change your country of residence to another one of your choosing. You seem to adore Iran and Russia, so why not relocate to one of these "serious" countries?

 

[kEiThZ]

You are welcome to change your country of residence to another one of your choosing. You seem to adore Iran and Russia, so why not relocate to one of these "serious" countries?

Maybe if we all ignore him, he'll go away. First person ever on my ignore list, in the better part of two decades on this forum.

 

[Full Metal Junkie]

But on a more serious note:

I am trying to understand what a "defense bank" is exactly.

It's a financial institution where NATO countries pool their money for defense projects. It will be used to finance military development projects as well as provide long-term loans to NATO countries for procurement of large ticket items (think re-fleeting of jets, submarines, etc.)

How many billions is this bank going to cost us?

It will be a huge economic driver for Canada. Just in the short term, it is expected to create 3,500 high-paying jobs in Canada (finance professionals, fintech IT). It's a big win for this country.

 

[narduch]

I am trying to understand what a "defense bank" is exactly.

Just another excuse to funnel tax payer money to corporations while they cut spending on programs that actually benefit the general public.

Much like the 'sovereign fund'

 

[Full Metal Junkie]

Just another excuse to funnel tax payer money to corporations while they cut spending on programs that actually benefit the general public.

There, fixed it for ya:
Just another exercise to funnel EU and US tax payer money to a corporation that will pay salaries to thousands of Canadians, pay taxes in Canada, which will in turn benefit the Canadian general public.

 

[Jonny5]

Interesting data points I came across. Source is Stats Canada.
Canadian Exports in nominal dollars have held steady or slightly increased, but the share of those exports going to the US has plunged.

 

[kEiThZ]

Just another excuse to funnel tax payer money to corporations while they cut spending on programs that actually benefit the general public.

What programs have been cut to fund this? Please link your sources.

 

[kEiThZ]

There, fixed it for ya:
Just another exercise to funnel EU and US tax payer money to a corporation that will pay salaries to thousands of Canadians, pay taxes in Canada, which will in turn benefit the Canadian general public.

It's not even mostly public money. A number of Canadian banks have signed on to provide seed money. It's largely pooling private money with some public funds, to provide low cost loans to defence companies that will enable them to boost production.

 

[Mihairokov]

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airasia-airbus-set-announce-150-jet-order-a220-wednesday-sources-say-2026-05-05/

MONTREAL, May 5 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab plans to announce an order on Wednesday for about 150 A220 jets ‌from AirAsia (AIRX.KL), opens new tab, in a boost for the planemaker's smallest jetliner that has recently lost orders to Brazil's Embraer (EMBJ3.SA), opens new tab, two sources told Reuters.
The province of Quebec has a minority stake in the A220 program, which is produced at a site in Mirabel, north of Montreal, and at a separate assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. A220 planes for non-U.S. customers are produced in Mirabel.

---

$14B contract for planes built in Montreal. Carney will be there tomorrow.

 

[EBT]

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airasia-airbus-set-announce-150-jet-order-a220-wednesday-sources-say-2026-05-05/

MONTREAL, May 5 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab plans to announce an order on Wednesday for about 150 A220 jets ‌from AirAsia (AIRX.KL), opens new tab, in a boost for the planemaker's smallest jetliner that has recently lost orders to Brazil's Embraer (EMBJ3.SA), opens new tab, two sources told Reuters.
The province of Quebec has a minority stake in the A220 program, which is produced at a site in Mirabel, north of Montreal, and at a separate assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. A220 planes for non-U.S. customers are produced in Mirabel.

---

$14B contract for planes built in Montreal. Carney will be there tomorrow.

This is good news. Hopefully they will ALL be assembled in Mirabel. I hope none of this business goes to Mobile. If the Trump administration gets wind of this, I could see them strongarming Malaysia to insist on final assembly in Mobile.

 

[urbanclient]

Going off the above discussions, this thread seems more suitable:

Little sense in exporting Canadian maple to Vietnam for manufacture and export back here. Does that really happen? I just can't fathom the economics on that ... that's the kind of thing where I'd hope tarifs do come into play, because that's would be just silly.

Maritime shipping is dirt cheap, we're talking tiny fractions of the total cost. So in that sense, cheap labour and economies of scale with large factories in Vietnam help a lot. If hypothetically, all of Europe offshored their furniture manufacturing to Vietnam, then the economies of scale would be immense.

But I think you already why companies offshored.

Canada is in a weird position for many things, it exports raw materials, but then lacks the complete domestic value chain that can produces final products from raw materials, with all of the intermediate stages of production. Even if Canada manufactures the final product, it's often done with parts made elsewhere.

Aluminum goes from Quebec to the US, to be rolled into sheets->then can sheets->then exported back to Canada to make aluminum cans. Some cans are made in the US (473mL tall cans), then exported to Canada for beverage bottling/canning. Aluminum<--->trade war.