Federal Government Allocates $5 Million for Ontario Tech University Defence Lab Expansion

The federal government is spending $5 million to expand a research and testing lab at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa for defence-sector technology. The funds will support the ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel, which simulates extreme weather conditions to test vehicles. The expansion will allow the lab to handle heavier and larger vehicles developed for defence purposes.

Jacobs, the university’s vice-president of research and innovation, said the project will also expand the lab’s capacity to test aerospace technologies and drones. In total, the expansion project will cost roughly $9 million, including funding from other partners such as the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.

Ryan Turnbull, who represents Whitby, said the ACE expansion will strengthen the supply chain in Canada and allow companies across the automotive, aerospace and defence sectors to bring new technologies to the market more quickly. Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, said ACE will provide a suitable environment for companies transitioning from civilian vehicle production to specialized defence production.

Funding comes after Oshawa submitted a proposal to the federal government a year ago that positioned the city as a future leader for the defence sector. The proposal highlighted ACE, an approved test centre under NATO’s DIANA network. City and regional councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, who spearheaded the plan, said conversations are ongoing with the federal and provincial governments about other opportunities, including Northwood Business Park.