Canada to send 39 London, Ont.-made armoured vehicles to Ukraine to help war efforts

Ottawa is sending 39 London, Ont.-built armoured combat support vehicles as military aid for Ukrainian soldiers to help during the Russian invasion, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand announced Thursday in London. 

The vehicles are part of a wider $500-million package of military aid noted in the last federal budget, in a bid to further arm Ukrainian defenders with modernized military equipment.

The deal for the vehicles was first announced in Madrid last month, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a NATO summit with other members of the military alliance. 

The 39 vehicles were destined to be used by the Canadian Armed Forces, but have been diverted by the federal government to the front lines of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's hoped the vehicles will help bolster Ukrainian defenders waging a grinding war of attrition against their enemy.

'Your work is absolutely critical'

On Thursday, Anand visited General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, the manufacturing plant that produces the vehicles.

Anand told employees that their work plays a crucial role in not just the defence of Canada, but safeguarding democracy overseas. 

"As we navigate a world increasingly under threat, your work is absolutely critical," she said. "Through your determination and skill, you are contributing to a Canada that is strong at home, a Canada that is secure in North America.

"Thanks to you, those who wear the Canadian flag on their uniform have the equipment they need to defend our values and undertake critical lifesaving missions." 

Anand also thanked the workers for the output of the London General Dynamics plant, which she said was responsible for about $9.2 billion in production to the country's gross domestic product (GDP). 

She said Canada will continue to invest in the defence industry through the modernization of NORAD infrastructure and equipment, as the country responds to emerging threats to its security.