Mississauga, ON (October 7, 2013) - Arlene Dickinson, one of the "Dragons" on the award-winning CBC series Dragons' Den, joins Mississauga Board of Trade for breakfast at Glenerin Inn & The Spa in Mississauga on November 12, 2013 to discuss Canada's National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

Dickinson, CEO and owner of Venture Communications, will discuss the Government of Canada's National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) initiative in which $25B has been earmarked for the construction of new ships for the Royal Canadian Navy.

The NSPS, which was announced in June 2010, is the largest procurement sourcing arrangement in Canadian history and is expected to create thousands of high-value jobs across the country and will have significant economic benefits in shipbuilding and related industries across Canada.

"Our Government made the decision to build ships in Canada, while ensuring that the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard have the equipment they need to defend and assert our Northern sovereignty," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, in a press release.

According to a press release, the NSPS, which was developed after consultations with industry stakeholders, encompasses three streams - large ship construction and small ship construction as well as repair, refit and maintenance projects. 

"The NSPS is an opportunity for our local business community to partake in the procurement process, which will be a notable benefit to small and medium-sized enterprises," said MBOT President & CEO, Sheldon Leiba.

"Mississauga is a technology hub, which aligns with the requirements for the NSPS. This is not just about steel; it's about subcontracting vast amounts of work to the suppliers of the marine industry, building sustainable supply chains with second and third tier companies and benefiting many Canadian firms."

 

Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event are available for a cost of $55 for MBOT Members and $75 for Non-Members. This event will sell out, so get your tickets well in advance. For more information please visit www.mbot.com. 

For more information on the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, read the press release.

 

As the voice of business since 1976, Mississauga Board of Trade is a private-sector, not-for-profit business organization representing approximately 1,500 businesses, employing 65,000 people in Mississauga. MBOT is well positioned to meet the needs of business by using its considerable influence at all levels of government. As the forum for business, MBOT works together to influence public policy and promote a better understanding of the marketplace among policy makers, media and the general public.