Canada has struck a C$350 million deal with Ukraine to provide air defense interceptors, Prime Minister Carney announced.

Key details of Canada's defense commitment to Ukraine

Alongside the interceptor agreement, Carney stated that Canada aims to produce millions of drones and plans to send a third of that production to Ukraine within the next two years.

The following table summarises the key elements of Canada's announced defense support:

Scope of Canada's support

The dual announcement covers both an immediate procurement deal for air defense interceptors and a longer-term domestic drone production initiative. Canada's stated intention to direct a third of its drone output to Ukraine underscores the scale of the planned support commitment.

The Canadian government announced nearly $1.58 million in funding on Sept. 9, 2026, to support skilled trades training in Edmonton. The investment targets the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955 Training Trust Fund to acquire modern crane equipment.

The Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour), confirmed the allocation under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Investments in Training Equipment stream. This specific funding supports the purchase of a new rough terrain crane and a Liebherr telescoping mobile crane.

Specific Funding Allocation

The investment directly addresses the need for hands-on experience for mobile crane operators. The program covers up to 50% of the cost for new equipment, requiring recipients to leverage the remaining capital.

Chris Flett, IUOE 955 Business Manager, noted that the equipment will expand the union’s ability to prepare a safe, skilled workforce for industry needs.

Broader Team Canada Strong Initiative

This local announcement reinforces the federal government’s broader plan to recruit and train between 80,000 and 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers by 2030–2031. The initiative is part of the $6 billion Team Canada Strong strategy announced in the 2026 Spring Economic Update.

The government has further strengthened this commitment with an additional $2 billion in bilateral agreements with provinces and territories. These funds aim to increase access to pre-apprenticeship and technical training opportunities.

Union Training and Innovation Expansion

The federal government is doubling its investment in the Union Training and Innovation Program. Building on Budget 2025’s $75 million investment, an additional $225 million is allocated to help union-run training centres upgrade facilities and expand capacity.

Since 2017, the Union Training and Innovation Program has supported more than 173,000 participants. The government aims to align occupational health and safety requirements across jurisdictions to facilitate labour mobility while maintaining union-established safety standards.

Workforce Demand Context

The investments respond to significant future labour shortages. By 2033, Canada will require more than 1.4 million new trades workers to support housing construction, transit expansion, and energy infrastructure development.