Canada is doubling down on its aerospace and space ambitions—pairing national security priorities with industrial growth—through a targeted investment aimed at scaling homegrown innovation.
On April 1 in Toronto, the Government of Canada announced a combined $14.5 million investment through FedDev Ontario to accelerate the growth of two Canadian companies: Kepler Communications Inc. and Dishon Limited. Together, the projects underscore a broader push to strengthen sovereign capabilities in critical technologies while reinforcing Canada’s position in an increasingly competitive global defence and space landscape.
At the centre of the announcement is a clear objective: ensure Canada can build, deploy, and sustain advanced capabilities at home—while remaining a reliable partner to allies abroad.
“Kepler Communications and Dishon Limited are strong examples of Canadian innovators. By investing in these companies, building sovereign capabilities at home while ensuring Canada remains a strong, trusted partner in the rapidly evolving space and defence landscape,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Scaling Sovereign Capability in Space
Toronto-based Kepler Communications is receiving $7 million to advance its next-generation satellite network. The company has already established itself as a key player in low-Earth orbit (LEO) communications, designing and deploying satellites capable of delivering secure, resilient, and high-speed data services between space and Earth.
This latest investment builds on earlier federal support that enabled Kepler to design its constellation and manufacture its first tranche of satellites. Now, the focus shifts to scaling.
With the successful January 2026 launch of Tranche 1—comprising 10 optical communications satellites—Kepler is entering a new phase. The company is advancing capabilities such as Arctic communications, customer connectivity trials, and full service-ready operations. These developments are expected to support Canada’s future participation in defence initiatives like enhanced surveillance from space, while reinforcing sovereign communications infrastructure.
“Kepler is thankful to receive this support from FedDev Ontario. This investment will support work underway for our Tranche 1 optical network. Kepler will also leverage this investment to support future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance requirements with the Department of National Defence,” stated Mina Mitry, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, Kepler Communications Inc.
Advanced Manufacturing Anchored in Canada
Alongside space-based innovation, the government is investing in the industrial backbone that enables it.
Dishon Limited will receive $7.5 million to scale production at its new 30,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Vaughan, Ontario. By integrating state-of-the-art machining and precision-measurement equipment, the company is positioning itself to meet growing demand for complex, high-precision components across aerospace, defence, and emerging sectors.
The expansion is expected to strengthen Canada’s defence supply chain while opening new opportunities in commercial aviation, satellite production, and even low-carbon energy technologies, including fusion.
“FedDev Ontario’s investment in Dishon is pivotal – enabling our company to keep up with the largest rocket makers in the world, the growing commercial aircraft industry, and the forefront of advanced manufacturing companies who are commercializing new technologies. We are grateful to FedDev and for the amazing workforce we’ve been able to attract here in Vaughan,” conveyed Ilan Dishy, President, Dishon Limited.
Building Strength at Home—and Beyond
The dual investment reflects a broader strategic alignment between innovation, industrial capacity, and national security. From orbit to factory floor, the goal is not only to build capability—but to anchor it domestically.
“Today’s announcement showcases the cutting-edge work happening across the Greater Toronto Area, where companies like Kepler Communications and Dishon Limited are creating skilled jobs and building capabilities that strengthens Canada’s security and supports our future in space. These investments will help these companies grow, while strengthening Canada’s defence supply chain—ensuring that our country has reliable, homegrown sovereign capabilities,” expressed Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport.
As global competition intensifies across aerospace and defence, Canada’s approach is increasingly clear: invest in innovation, scale domestic industry, and ensure sovereign capability remains at the core of future readiness.
