Overview of the Promise

During his 2025 election campaign, Mark Carney promised to expand Canada's fleet of aerial and underwater drones, along with investments in Canadian satellite technology. The goal was to establish a persistent presence across the North, monitor the country's vast landscape and the world's longest coastline, and achieve this through investments in made-in-Canada innovations.

Actions Taken on Drone Fleet Expansion

In June 2025, shortly after taking office, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $9 billion investment plan to rebuild and rearm the Canadian Armed Forces, which included provisions for enhancing drone capabilities. This was part of a broader defence strategy unveiled in Halifax in March 2025, focusing on Canadian-made drones for Arctic defence, border security, and undersea infrastructure protection. The plan emphasized autonomous vehicles, including aerial and underwater drones, to address monitoring needs in remote areas.

By August 2025, the government has moved forward with international partnerships, such as a $2 billion military aid package to Ukraine that includes drones and armoured vehicles, and a $200 million commitment for joint production of advanced drones with Ukraine involving Canadian suppliers. Domestically, the Canadian Forces are experimenting with drone technologies, drawing lessons from Ukraine, to foster a domestic industry for military drone exports. Regulatory changes by Transport Canada in June 2025 have also facilitated beyond visual line-of-sight operations for medium-sized drones, supporting fleet expansion efforts.

These steps indicate progress on expanding the aerial drone fleet through investments and partnerships, though actual deployment and fleet growth remain ongoing. For underwater drones, the defence strategy mentions autonomous underwater vehicles and submarines, but specific expansions are still in the planning phase.

Investments in Canadian Satellite Technology

The promise includes investments in Canadian satellite technology to support monitoring objectives. In March 2025, Carney pledged over $6 billion for an early warning radar missile detection system, which integrates satellite-linked technologies for threat detection from adversaries like Russia and China. This aligns with the goal of persistent Northern presence. Additionally, the $9 billion defence plan in June 2025 encompasses reinvestments in advanced technologies, including satellite systems for surveillance.

While funding has been allocated, full implementation of satellite investments is in progress, with no reports of completed deployments as of August 2025. The focus on made-in-Canada innovations is evident in commitments to domestic research and procurement revamps promised during the campaign and reiterated post-election.

Building Persistent Northern Presence and Monitoring

To achieve a persistent presence across the North and monitor Canada's landscape and coastline, the government has committed $420 million to expand Arctic military presence, as announced in March 2025. This ties into the drone and satellite investments for surveillance. The overall $80 billion defence modernization package signals a strategic shift toward these goals, with a emphasis on domestic suppliers for advanced tech.

Progress includes policy announcements and budget allocations, but tangible outcomes like deployed assets are not yet fully realized, placing this aspect in progress.

Legislation and Policy Developments

No specific new legislation has been passed solely for this promise, but it aligns with the 2025 defence investment plan, which builds on existing frameworks like the National Defence Act. Transport Canada's regulatory updates in June 2025 amended drone rules without needing new laws, enabling expanded operations. The government's procurement revamp, promised in April 2025, aims to boost domestic military tech research, potentially influencing future budgets. These are executive actions rather than legislative ones, with funding tied to the federal budget process.

Assessment of Progress and Risks

The promise is in progress, with significant announcements, funding pledges, and initial partnerships demonstrating commitment. To become kept, the government must follow through with actual procurement, deployment of expanded drone fleets (aerial and underwater), and operational satellite investments, achieving measurable persistent monitoring in the North by investing in Canadian innovations—likely within the next 1-2 years given the timelines in defence plans.

It would be at risk of being broken if budget constraints, procurement delays, or shifts in priorities (e.g., due to economic pressures or international events) prevent implementation. If no further actions occur by mid-2026, it could be deemed broken or revert to not started.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.