Halifax hosting defence firms at record-breaking conference amid protests

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-07 20:12:16.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Defence, Industry, Economy, Infrastructure]

Halifax is hosting DEFSEC Atlantic 2026 at the Halifax Convention Centre, drawing over 3,000 attendees as Nova Scotia's defence and aerospace sector contributes $2.7 billion to the provincial GDP and supports 17,000 jobs. The record-breaking conference coincides with a generational wave of federal defense spending, highlighted by Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement of $3 billion in new infrastructure and defence funding for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, including over $2 billion dedicated to modernizing infrastructure and building facilities for new warships and aircraft. Meanwhile, the three-day event faced protests outside from groups such as the Halifax Committee Against Imperialist War And Genocide, who criticized the gathering as an arms expo profiting from global conflict.