On 5 November 2020, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (the Committee) agreed to undertake a study on issues related to the development and support of the aerospace industry. As part of this study, it held four meetings, during which it heard 33 witnesses and received two written briefs.

Chapter One of the present report explains that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the aerospace sector was a strong contributor to economy. However, some subsectors were already experiencing difficulties. The aerospace sector was among the sectors most severely affected by COVID-19, which compounded existing challenges.

Chapter Two summarizes arguments for and against supporting the aerospace sector as Canada recovers from the pandemic. Those in favour recommended supporting the sector on four main fronts: direct financing; research, development and training; procurement; and federal strategies and regulations.

Based on witnesses’ proposals, Chapter Three lists the Committee’s recommendations for the recovery of Canada’s aerospace sector. The Committee acknowledges that a full recovery to the industry’s peak could take years. The federal response to this hard-hit industry is likely to shape Canada’s future in aerospace for decades to come.