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Afficher le courriel dans votre navigateur Read this email in English Chaque lundi, on vous accompagne dans cette infolettre conjointe de Montréal inc., Bonjour Startup Montréal, Maison Notman et OSMO ! Découvrez nos initiatives, celles de l'écosystème, ainsi que des articles qui font du bien. Nos initiatives conjointes Mercredi 8 avril, 14h Comme tous les mercredis, rejoignez-nous pour le prochain webinaire animé par Patrick Gagné, entrepreneur en série, PDG d'OSMO et co-fondateur de Bonjour Startup Montréal. Pour cette 4e édition, nous assisterons aux témoignages inspirants d'entrepreneurs à succès. Segment 1 : Entrepreneur au coeur de l'action - Dominic Gagnon, co-fondateur et CEO de Connect&Go. Face à la crise, cet entrepreneur à succès a su pivoter en adaptant sa technologie pour lutter contre le coronavirus. Segment 2 : S'adapter à la nouvelle réalité - Wissam Abirashed, 4 ans de télétravail chez InVision et maintenant ingénieur sénior chez GitHub qui nous parlera de ses bonnes pratiques pour créer une culture d'entreprise à distance. Segment 3: Les dernières mesures et initiatives INSCRIPTION POUR VISIONNER L'ENREGISTREMENT DU WEBINAIRE DU 1 AVRIL Jeudi 9 avril 14h Bonjour Startup Montréal et Montréal inc. convient les fondateurs de startups à participer à un webinaire sur la gestion des ressources humaines. Comment faire face aux enjeux de ressources humaines pendant la Covid-19 ? Quels sont les moyens ou actions pour vous aider dans cette situation ? Comment comprendre les mesures d'aide et les gérer au sein de votre équipe? Comment bien gérer des mises à pieds et en minimiser les impacts? Un atelier virtuel avec Martin Larivière, entrepreneur et consultant en gestion, et Alexandre Tremblay-Michaud, consultant RH pour les startups et PME, animé par Naouel Hanani, directrice des opérations, Montréal inc. INSCRIPTION Jeudi, on parle RH ! Bonjour Startup Montréal a le plaisir de vous convier à deux webinaires qui répondront à vos questions sur les gestion des ressources humaines en temps de crise : Jeudi 9 avril 11h Lors de ce webinaire présenté en partenariat avec OSMO, Cynthia et David, tous deux membres de Sourcinc, présenteront les nombreuses possibilités pour optimiser son recrutement pendant ce contexte exceptionnel mais aussi anticiper la relance. Ils partageront des méthodologies de recrutement réactif vs proactif, les outils pertinents du moment, les processus d'évaluation à distance, etc. INSCRIPTION Retour sur le Webinaire - COVID 19 Jeudi dernier, Bonjour Startup Montréal, Montréal inc. et Startup en Résidence Desjardins organisaient un webinaire animé par Marie-Pier Boivin, doctorante en psychologie organisationnelle, experte en santé et bien-être au travail. Elle nous a expliqué comment identifier, isoler et combattre les sentiments de stress, anxiété et déprime que nous pouvons ressentir pendant cette période. REPLAY Webinaire Zù - COVID-19 : Gérer vos affaires gouvernementales Le 3 avril dernier, Patrick Gagné PDG d'OSMO et co-fondateur de Bonjour Startup Montréal a été l'animateur et a répondu aux questions lors du webinaire de Zù qui invitait Dany Renauld, vice-président et chef des opérations de Pilote à témoigner de son expertise. VOIR LES PROCHAINS WEBINAIRES ZÙ Nos ressources Cette page rassemble les informations relatives aux mesures prises par différentes instances gouvernementales pour assurer la résilience économique en lien avec la COVID-19. Au fur et à mesure que la situation évolue, nous mettons à jour cette section afin que la communauté startup puisse trouver un maximum de réponses aux questions et inquiétudes. CONSULTER LA PAGE Une page regroupant les questions les plus fréquemment posées et des pistes de réponses proposées par des conseillers spécialisés. CONSULTER LA PAGE Consultez et partagez toutes les ressources, questions, inquiétudes que vous avez dans ce document collaboratif, ouvert à tout l'écosystème ! CONSULTER LE DOCUMENT Posez toutes vos questions à nos experts Vous êtes entrepreneur et souhaitez réviser votre modèle d'affaires pour l'adapter aux besoins actuels? Nous avons une cinquantaine d'experts que nous mettons à votre disposition pour vous aider. Il suffit de demander une rencontre à coach@montrealinc.ca et le service est SANS frais ! Expertises de nos bénévoles : affaires juridiques, communications, comptabilité, gestion des opérations, marketing, RH, croissance, intelligence artificielle, développement des affaires... et bien d'autres ! *Tous les experts ont signé une entente de confidentialité des informations reçues et sont tenus de déclarer tout conflit d'intérêts. EN SAVOIR PLUS Échangez sur la chaîne #covid-19 du slack Bonjour Startup Montréal! Rejoignez-nous sur Slack! Initiatives de soutien de l'écostème Le Panier Bleu Une initiative soutenue par le gouvernement du Québec pour dynamiser le commerce local. Proposant un répertoire complet des commerçants locaux partout dans la province, il va bientôt s'accompagner d'un moteur de recherche pour permettre de repérer les produits vendus et ainsi simplifier comme jamais l'achat local. PLUS D'INFOS Futurpreneur Plusieurs mesures sont mises en place, autant des ajustements financiers que des mesures d'accompagnement dont un programme de financement de 20 000$, pour les entrepreneurs issus d'organismes qualifiés PLUS D'INFOS LeCoude MAIN LeCOUDE est un plan d'action déployé par le Mouvement des Accélérateurs en Innovation du Québec en collaboration avec les accélérateurs du Québec dans le contexte de la crise économique actuelle. Un baromètre est mis à jour hebdomadairement sur la base d'un questionnaire. Pour inscrire votre entreprise au baromètre, vous pouvez remplir le questionnaire. PLUS D'INFOS CDPQ La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec met 4 milliards dans une enveloppe qui servira à appuyer les entreprises québécoises temporairement affectées par la COVID-19. PLUS D'INFOS Lightspeed Local : maintenir les entreprises locales en vie pendant la COVID-19 Lightspeed offre trois mois gratuits sur ses solutions de commerce en ligne, de livraison et de programmes de fidélité aux commerçants particulièrement touchés par les récentes restrictions sanitaires liées à la crise de la COVID-19. La compagnie rembourse par ailleurs les achats de ses employés auprès de clients Lightspeed pour un montant maximal de 500 $. PLUS D'INFOS The Help List Une base collaborative de données pour les startups canadiennes développée par Prospect pour aider les startups à s'adapter à la nouvelle réalité de la COVID-19 en partenariat avec You X Ventures. PLUS D'INFOS Vous avez vu ou lancé des initiatives positives? Envoyez-les nous, et nous les partagerons! Ces lectures qui font du bien MAIN, L'économie de “l'après” est déjà en marche, soutenons-la - MAIN 5 Key Insights About the Impact of Coronavirus on Global Startup Ecosystems - Startup Genome Créer un nouveau jeu pour enfants en 5 jours en plein Coronavirus, cette entrepreneure l'a fait - Urelles Une start-up en mode solution pour sa survie - Le Journal de Montréal 5 entreprises ingénieuses en temps de crise - L'actualité Alimentaire Donner 500$ à ses employés pour qu'ils achètent local - Le Devoir Suivez-nous! Follow us!

We have funding opportunities for Canadian innovators who can help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Health Agency of Canada and the National Research Council of Canada are looking for a Point of Care and Home Diagnostic Kit. The National Research Council of Canada has also modified their Low Cost Sensor System challenge to address needs for COVID-19. Think you can solve one of these challenges? Compete for funding to prove your feasibility and develop a solution! COVID-19 Funding Opportunities COVID-19 Challenge - Point of Care and Home Diagnostic Kit for COVID-19 Défi COVID-19 - Trousse de diagnostic au point de service et à domicile pour le COVID-19 COVID-19 Challenge - Low-cost sensor system for COVID-19 patient monitoring Défi COVID-19 – Système de capteurs peu coûteux surveiller l'état des patients atteints de la COVID-19 Nous avons des opportunités de financement pour les innovateurs canadiens qui peuvent aider à lutter contre la pandémie COVID-19. L'Agence de santé publique du Canada et le Conseil national de recherches du Canada sont à la recherche d'un kit de diagnostic aux points de service et à domicile. Le Conseil national de recherches du Canada a également modifié son Défi du système de capteurs peu coûteux pour surveiller l'état des patients pour répondre aux besoins de COVID-19. Vous pensez pouvoir résoudre l'un de ces défis ? Participez pour avoir la chance de recevoir du financement pour prouver votre faisabilité de votre solution et la développer ! Possibilités de financement liées à la COVID-19 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Vous souhaitez changer la façon dont vous recevez ces courriels? Vous pouvez mettre à jour vos préférences ou retirer votre nom de la liste de distribution.

Bonjour à tous, Mises à jour aujourd'hui. Services essentiels Au cours des prochaines semaines, le respect des consignes de santé publique du gouvernement du Québec sera capital et permettra de sauver des vies. Si votre entreprise fait partie de la liste des services essentiels tel que définie par la Direction de la santé publique du gouvernement ou les activités de votre entreprise ont dû être réduites au minimum, SVP afficher les deux documents attachés (COVID-19 en FR et EN) ci-haut à l'entrée de votre établissement et sur les portes d'accès de toute espace de travail ou espace commun au sein de votre entreprise. Mesures économiques – programmes gouvernementaux, municipaux et institutionnels Vous trouverez ci-joint un nouveau communiqué d'aide financière supplémentaire pour les petites et moyennes entreprises du Québec, à votre attention et tout partenaire de votre réseau. Les entreprises de tous les secteurs d'activité, y compris les coopératives, les organismes sans but lucratif et les entreprises d'économie sociale réalisant des activités commerciales, pourront ainsi obtenir un prêt ou une garantie de prêt d'un montant maximal de 50 000 $, afin de pallier le manque de liquidités lié à la COVID-19. Les principales modalités ainsi que la façon de procéder pour obtenir l'aide sont présentées sur le site Web Québec.ca. Les entreprises admissibles souhaitant obtenir plus d'informations ou se prévaloir de ce financement peuvent s'adresser à leur MRC. Votre contribution à « l'effort de guerre » Les entreprises du Québec voulant contribuer à l'effort provincial de Pandémie de COVID-19 doivent écrire à l'adresse suivant : Jecontribue@economie.gouv.qc.ca Pour l'instant, nous nous limitons à référer les sous-traitants potentiels au palier provincial pour répondre aux besoins prioritaires de la province. Le personnel fédéral fait la même chose pour l'approvisionnement canadien. Liste des biens et fournitures essentiels demandés en pièce jointe (EPI).

Dans le cadre d'un effort coordonné pour lutter contre la COVID-19, IDEeS veut informer les innovateurs au sujet de défis liés à la COVID-19 publiés par le Centre de l'innovation de l'OTAN. Le Centre de l'innovation de l'OTAN est composé d'une communauté d'experts de partout au monde qui collaborent pour relever des défis de l'OTAN et de développer des solutions. En réponse à la pandémie, le Centre de l'innovation a lancé deux défis : Identifier les fausses informations et atténuer leurs effets; et Livraison de fournitures aux personnes et aux équipes isolées. Ces défis sont ouverts à tous. Vous pouvez soumettre vos solutions ici : https://www.innovationhub-act.org/challenge-intro Si vous avez des questions, vous pouvez communiquer directement avec l'OTAN par courriel sactinnovationhub@act.nato.int

by Sandra Erwin In response to the SBIR solicitation, a space startup is developing a geospatial intelligence-based tool that can help governments identify infected areas. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research office has posted a new solicitation that includes COVID-19 countermeasures as an area of interest. The March 30 Small Business Innovation Research solicitation, like most SBIR calls, is open to proposals on any topic that addresses a defense-focused need. But this is the first one that includes COVID-19 “defeat and mitigation related to Air Force operations and activities” as an area of interest. Proposals are due April 30. This SBIR is for “direct to Phase 2” contracts of up to $1 million over 27 months. Phase 1 awards are for early research work whereas Phase 2 are for technologies that are relevant to defense needs but also have commercialization potential. Some Air Force SBIR programs require matching funds from private investors. According to the March 30 solicitation, companies can compete for $1 million Air Force awards but private matching funds are not a requirement. The SBIR solicitation is an opportunity for startups in space and defense to adapt technologies for COVID-19 response, Shawn Usman, an astrophysicist with Rhea Space Activity, told SpaceNews. Usman said Rhea Space Activity has partnered with Illumina Consulting Group and Dynamic Graphics to offer a geospatial intelligence-based tool that can help governments identify infected areas much faster than is currently possible. “We can provide operational, real-time data analysis and alerting capabilities to federal, state, and military emergency operations centers,” he said. “Our solution will collect publicly available information, including social media and adware data, and correlate it with other data sets from public health organizations to create alerts detailing the emergence of COVID-19 hotspots.” Using open-source analytics and satellite collected geospatial information it would be possible to “readily confirm COVID-19 infected population areas, and will provide first responders with much more detailed, real time information to formulate their own reaction plans,” Usman said. https://spacenews.com/air-force-small-business-program-seeks-technologies-to-help-counter-covid-19/

Aaron Mehta A congressionally mandated panel of technology experts has issued its first set of recommendations for the government, including doubling the amount of money spent on artificial intelligence outside the defense department and elevating a key Pentagon office to report directly to the Secretary of Defense. Created by the National Defense Authorization Act in 2018, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence is tasked with reviewing “advances in artificial intelligence, related machine learning developments, and associated technologies,” for the express purpose of addressing “the national and economic security needs of the United States, including economic risk, and any other associated issues.” The commission issued an initial report in November, at the time pledging to slowly roll out its actual policy recommendations over the course of the next year. Today's report represents the first of those conclusions — 43 of them in fact, tied to legislative language that can easily be inserted by Congress during the fiscal year 2021 budget process. Bob Work, the former deputy secretary of defense who is the vice-chairman of the commission, said the report is tied into a broader effort to move DoD away from a focus on large platforms. “What you're seeing is a transformation to a digital enterprise, where everyone is intent on making the DoD more like a software company. Because in the future, algorithmic warfare, relying on AI and AI enabled autonomy, is the thing that will provide us with the greatest military competitive advantage,” he said during a Wednesday call with reporters. Among the key recommendations: The government should “immediately double non-defense AI R&D funding” to $2 billion for FY21, a quick cash infusion which should work to strengthen academic center and national labs working on AI issues. The funding should “increase agency topline levels, not repurpose funds from within existing agency budgets, and be used by agencies to fund new research and initiatives, not to support re-labeled existing efforts.” Work noted that he recommends this R&D to double again in FY22. The commission leaves open the possibility of recommendations for increasing DoD's AI investments as well, but said it wants to study the issue more before making such a request. In FY21, the department requested roughly $800 million in AI developmental funding and another $1.7 billion in AI enabled autonomy, which Work said is the right ratio going forward. “We're really focused on non-defense R&D in this first quarter, because that's where we felt we were falling further behind,” he said. “We expect DoD AI R&D spending also to increase” going forward. The Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) should report directly to the Secretary of Defense, and should continue to be led by a three-star officer or someone with “significant operational experience.” The first head of the JAIC, Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, is retiring this summer; currently the JAIC falls under the office of the Chief Information Officer, who in turn reporters to the secretary. Work said the commission views the move as necessary in order to make sure leadership in the department is “driving" investment in AI, given all the competing budgetary requirements. The DoD and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) should establish a steering committee on emerging technology, tri-chaired by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Principal Deputy Director of ODNI, in order to “drive action on emerging technologies that otherwise may not be prioritized” across the national security sphere. Government microelectronics programs related to AI should be expanded in order to “develop novel and resilient sources for producing, integrating, assembling, and testing AI-enabling microelectronics.” In addition, the commission calls for articulating a “national for microelectronics and associated infrastructure.” Funding for DARPA's microelectronics program should be increased to $500 million. The commission also recommends the establishment of a $20 million pilot microelectronics program to be run by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), focused on AI hardware. The establishment of a new office, tentatively called the National Security Point of Contact for AI, and encourage allied government to do the same in order to strengthen coordination at an international level. The first goal for that office would be to develop an assessment of allied AI research and applications, starting with the Five Eyes nations and then expanding to NATO. One issue identified early by the commission is the question of ethical AI. The commission recommends mandatory training on the limits of artificial intelligence in the AI workforce, which should include discussions around ethical issues. The group also calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security and the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to “share their ethical and responsible AI training programs with state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officials,” and track which jurisdictions take advantage of those programs over a five year period. Missing from the report: any mention of the Pentagon's Directive 3000.09, a 2012 order laying out the rules about how AI can be used on the battlefield. Last year C4ISRNet revealed that there was an ongoing debate among AI leaders, including Work, on whether that directive was still relevant. While not reflected in the recommendations, Eric Schmidt, the former Google executive who chairs the commission, noted that his team is starting to look at how AI can help with the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, saying "“We're in an extraordinary time... we're all looking forward to working hard to help anyway that we can.” The full report can be read here. https://www.c4isrnet.com/artificial-intelligence/2020/04/01/panel-wants-to-double-federal-spending-on-ai/

COVID-19 is the most disruptive event to hit the world's economy and nations since World War II, and the end is nowhere in sight. So how will the mix of business shutdowns, self-isolation, and plummeting government tax revenues (further depleted by COVID-19 relief spending) affect the Canadian defence industry? At this early stage, it is impossible to provide a definitive answer. That said, the companies and experts contacted by CDR provided some insights into the problem; based on their best assessments of what is going on. EXPECT DELAYS IN PROCUREMENT DECISIONS COVID-19 is bad news for Canada's defence procurement process. It has already resulted in delays to current projects, such as Irving Shipyards closing down work on the Canadian Surface Combatant in mid-March. It could also delay ongoing procurements such as the Future Fighter Capability Project, which is due to receive proposals from Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and Saab by June 30, 2020. “In a situation like this, the key decisions are put off in government,” said Alan Williams, (During his 33 years in the federal civil service, Williams was Assistant Deputy Minister, Supply Operations Service in Public Works and Government Services Canada for five years; followed by fives years as DND's Assistant Deputy Minister of Materiel.) “Now you can do a lot of the paperwork associated with the procurement; including reviews and evaluations. But until things get back to normal, the key decisions will be put off.” AIRBUS HELICOPTERS REMAINS OPEN Canadian Airbus Helicopter operators can count on getting service during the COVID-19 shutdown. The reason: “Airbus Helicopters Canada qualifies as an essential workplace in the Province of Ontario,” said Dwayne Charette, the company's President/COO. “This allows us to continue to support our customers operating their helicopters to save lives, protect people and maintain critical infrastructure both in Canada and around the world. Our customers, including law enforcement agencies, militaries, emergency air medical service operators, and utility companies, are all relying on us to ensure they can continue to perform their critical missions and we have a responsibility to support them.” (In maintaining operations, Airbus is following approved COVID-19 infection-prevention procedures.) When it comes to Airbus Defence and Space Canada's contracts with the Canadian Armed Forces for CC-295 fixed-wing search and rescue (FWSAR) aircraft, “We are closely monitoring the situation and are in close contact with our customers,” said company President Simon Jacques. “We will review the situation once operations resume.” (Airbus delivered the first of 16 CC-295s to the RCAF in January 2020.) Airbus is also looking into producing critical medical equipment, in line with the federal government's plea to industry. MV ASTERIX READY TO HELP, DAVIE STILL RUNNING The Canadian Armed Forces are primed and ready to help with COVID-19 relief across Canada. So is Federal Fleet Services, which owns and operates the MV Asterix supply ship on behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy. At the moment, it is sitting crewed and ready for action in Halifax. “When we first designed the MV Asterix, we did a lot to ensure that it was ready for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said Alex Vicefield, chairman and CEO of Inocea Group; the parent company for Federal Fleet Services and Davie Shipbuilding. This is why the MV Asterix has an operating theatre, Intensive Care Unit, and other medical facilities onboard; ready to sail to whatever accessible port the federal government sends it to. “The Asterix is ready to serve as a scaled-down hospital ship; if it were needed for that,” said Vicefield. The ship's hospital even has its own separate HVAC system that would keep the air breathed by COVID-19 patients separate from the rest of the air circulating throughout the ship. Meanwhile, Davie Shipbuilding is continuing to convert three Swedish oil and gas icebreakers to serve with the Canadian Coast Guard. “We're not going to stop this project, obviously, because those are important national security assets for Canada,” said Vicefield. He explained the need to boost Canada's icebreaking capacity without delay in terms COVID-19's possible impact on US food exports to Canada. If this year's US crop yields are slashed due to pandemic deaths and social isolation, “the potential for that food supply to stop coming over the border would make Canada more reliant on foreign ships coming from Europe and so on,” Vicefield told CDR. “So the need for icebreakers is even more pressing.” TERRANOVA PITCHES IN Before COVID-19 hit, Terranova Defense Solutions was focussed on providing drones for air, land, and water applications; including its remotely-controlled Dolphin One water rescue drone. Now that COVID-19 is here, the company intends to answer Ottawa's call for help by adding much-needed medical supplies to its product roster. “Terranova Defense Solutions has already engaged with other companies to global source medical supplies for Canada,” said company President/Founder James Castle. “We are currently waiting for a response from the Canadian government to the next steps and we are prepared to help Canada in whatever way we can for no profit to best serve our Canadian family.” Thanks to its mainstream drone business, Terranova Defense Solutions already has procurement relationships with international partners. “These groups have been working with us as one united front -- helping Canadians through our Call to Arms against COVID-19 – to help us in sourcing new Europe CE and US FDA Certified medical supplies and ventilators for those in need,” said Castle. This said, “Finding transportation and funding to purchase and ship these items has been a challenge.” Looking ahead, “The main challenge facing us at this time is the uncertainty of what the landscape will look like following the pandemic,” Castle told CDR. “We believe that, while there will be negative impacts to the industry, there are and will be opportunities for companies that provide fresh and innovative solutions to the country going forward.” CAE TAKES TOUGH STEPS As detailed in a March 23, 2020 webcast to investors, CAE sees COVID-19 as “a crisis of unprecedented speed and magnitude,” said Marc Parent, CAE's President and Chief Executive Officer. To manage its way through the pandemic's economic impact, CAE farsightedly formed a crisis committee in January 2020. As of March 23rd, “we're taking immediate steps to preserve cash by cutting capital expenditures and reducing operating expenses, including temporary layoffs and salary cuts across the board,” Parent said. In response to a CDR question about the impact of COVID-19 on CAE's defence projects, Parent noted that the company's defence training programs are service level agreements with government clients. This means that payments associated with these defence agreements are not reliant upon actual usage by clients, which is the case with CAE's civil aviation training programs. “We're providing critical services here too, and the US government has recently articulated the absolute necessity of this activity,” said Parent. This said, some US bases have restricted access to their facilities; specifically by imposing 14-day quarantine pre-entry requirements on people from 100 miles outside of these installations. “Anything and everything that has to do with the movement and cooperation of people is more challenging in this environment,” Parent said. “So we've been impacted in terms of getting orders fulfilled, just because of that; getting access to the people, meeting face-to-face ... As well, the general preoccupation with the crisis clearly has an impact on the speed of the procurement processes.” The only good news for CAE in the COVID-19 crisis is that “we have approximately a $4 billion backlog in defence, which provides us with a good source of diversification and visibility,” said Parent. “Longer term, we don't see an obvious structural impact on defence. But I think we can anticipate some short-term friction as we move through this period.” AFTER CANCELLING CANSEC, CADSI TAKES UPBEAT APPROACH COVID-19 is proving to be difficult for the Canadian Association for Defence and Security Industries (CADSI); most notably because it has cancelled plans to stage the CANSEC 2020 global defence and security trade show in Ottawa May 27-28, 2020. The bad news was announced on March 31, 2020, during CADSI's Annual General Meeting (which, due to COVID-19, was held as a teleconference.) “As you can imagine, the decision was not made lightly,” said CADSI President and CEO Christyn Cianafarani. The reason CADSI took so long to cancel this year's CANSEC – compared to other COVID-19 related event cancellations – is because “it has a $10 million impact on the local Ottawa economy,” she explained. “We took the time necessary to explore every possible option with the City of Ottawa, our partners, contractors and suppliers to mitigate the losses to our community, in order to secure the long-term viability of CANSEC.” Despite the loss of CANSEC 2020, Cianafarani is taking an upbeat approach to the pandemic, by focussing on the good things her members are doing for Canada. “Throughout this crisis, the Canadian defence and security sectors have stepped up to support where help is most needed,” Cianafarani told CDR. “Companies from coast-to-coast have refocused their attention to produce in-demand equipment like N95 masks, gloves, testing kits, shelters and ventilators needed to protect health care workers, patients, and the public. With the rise in online activity, cyber defence and security companies have offered free cyber protection services to hospitals, medical supply chains and other essential service providers.” “These are just some examples,” she continued. “At the Association level, we are working hard to ensure companies facing hardships and challenges are connected to the government programs best placed to help them get through these exceptional economic times.” AIAC SEEKS ‘ESSENTIAL SERVICE' STATUS In an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, access to aviation is vital. This is why the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) – in association with AIAC member companies and regional aerospace industry associations – “has been calling for action from the Prime Minister and Premiers to designate the aerospace, defence and space sectors an essential service in all of Canada's provinces and territories,” said AIAC President and CEO Jim Quick. “Canada's aerospace industry is doing vital work -- providing products, services and solutions for a variety of purposes including emergency medical services and the transportation of vital medical equipment, domestic and international transportation, firefighting, search and rescue, telecommunications, border and maritime patrol and security, law enforcement, and military operations and support -- and it needs a consistent approach across the country. Not surprisingly, the global shutdown is seriously affecting AIAC member companies. To help them weather the storm, “we've been actively reaching out to our members, letting them know we are here to assist in any way we can during this crisis,” said Quick. To achieve this the AIAC is sending out a daily ‘News You Can Use' COVID-19 update that outlines the latest aerospace industry related news and announcements. The association has also launched a specialized 'COVID-19 Updates and Resources' website page for the latest on government resources on stimulus, subsidies, webinars and more; plus holding briefings with federal cabinet members. As well, “Aerospace is responding to the government's call for retooling to convert operations to deliver on needed supplies such as ventilators, masks and other essential supplies and equipment,” Quick told CDR. CDAI POLLS SHOWS SOLID SUPPORT FOR CAF INTERVENTION 88% of Canadians believe that the Canadian Armed Forces have a role to play in supporting civilian authorities manage and mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a survey conducted by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI) and Ipsos Canada. Based on a March 20-23, 2020 online survey of 2,000 Canadians aged 18+, the poll foreshadowed Ottawa's decision to publicly commit the CAF to COVID-19 relief on March 30, 2020. Among the CDAI/Ipsos Canada poll findings: 65% supported the CAF helping to deliver medical and other supplies to service providers and the Canadian public; 64% were okay with the CAF supporting Canadian law enforcement agencies; 58% supported the continued use of CFB Trenton to quarantine at-risk or infected travellers/evacuees; 54% wants the CAF to help with evacuating and medical transporting infected Canadians. "I am not surprised by these survey results,” said LGen (Ret'd) Guy Thibault, CDAI Chair and former Vice-Chief of Defence Staff. “Time and again Canadians have seen the outstanding professionalism and critical contributions of the men and women of the Canadian Forces in humanitarian missions and natural disaster relief operations abroad and at home. There is no more important mission for the Forces than protecting Canadians in times of great need, and they are a highly respected and trusted national institution.” http://www.canadiandefencereview.com/Featured_content?blog/168

At Skies, we've heard from a number of Canadian aviation product, support and services businesses that are doing their best to keep our industry moving during this global pandemic. To ensure that operators can still access the support they need, here is a non-exhaustive list of companies who are still open for business in some capacity. This list will be updated regularly. If you would like your company to be added to the list, please email news@skiesmag.com. Airbus Helicopters Canada Air Georgian AirSuite Inc. Alpine Aerotech Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp. Apex Industries Inc. ARTEX Atlantic Avionics Aurora Jet Partners Aviation Business Support Inc. Avmax AvroTecknik Aviation B.C. Aviation Council Boeing Distribution Inc. Cadorath Calm Air International Canadian Airports Council Canadian Air Parts, Ltd. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace CanRep Inc. CanWest Aerospace Inc. CarteNav Solutions (Mission systems) Custom Helicopters DART Aerospace Eagle Copters Essential Turbines, Inc. EuroTec Canada Exchange Petroleum Execaire Fast Air – Air Charter Services Fast Air Jet Centre (FBO) Flight Data Systems FlightPath International FlightSafety Canada (Toronto and Montreal) Flying Colours Corp. FreeFlight Systems Global Airparts Inc. Heli-One Helitowcart Helitrades Heliwelders Canada Ltd. HM Aero Aviation Consulting ICARUS Aero, Inc. Image Air Innotech Aviation KADEX Aero Supply Ltd. Keewatin Air (Aircraft maintenance and hangarage) KF Aerospace Latitude Technologies Levaero Aviation Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. Mid-Canada Mod Center Moncton Flight College Morningstar Air Express National Airlines Council of Canada National Helicopters Inc. Nav Canada Pacific Coastal Airlines (Emergency charter services and reduced WestJet Link flights) PAL Aerospace PAL Aviation Services (Full-service FBO) Passport Helico (Commercial 702/703 and AMO) Perimeter Aviation Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Precision Aero Components Premier Aviation Québec Inc. Rocky Mountain Aircraft Rotor Services Ltd. Sander Geophysics Limited (Air cargo) SEI Industries Select Helicopter Services Ltd. Signature Flight Support – Edmonton Skyservice Business Aviation SKYTRAC Systems StandardAero Sunwest Aviation Szabo Aviation International TEAAM Aeromedical Technisonic Industries Ltd. Tradewind International, LLC TSL Aerospace Technologies Ltd. Turbolyft Aerospace Upper Valley Aviation Ltd. Vanguard Air Care Vmo Solutions Voyageur Aviation Corp. Wasaya Airways Western Propeller Wilderness Helicopters WinAir We're all in this together! #CanadianAviation https://www.skiesmag.com/news/canadian-aviation-product-support-services-businesses-that-are-remaining-open-during-the-covid-19-crisis/