Ottawa/CMEDIA: The Swedish royal family reportedly joined by a delegation of top government ministers and representatives from dozens of Swedish companies arrived in Ottawa this morning to begin a three-day state visit.
Sweden’s longest reigning monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are visiting Ottawa and Montreal for their first trip to Canada since 2006.
Canada’s main focus had been whether Gripen fighter jets will join Canada’s military fleet.
But in recent months another facet of the Nordic country’s defence strategy has gained momentum which says it was every Swede’s duty to defend the country.
The plan is part of a concept called “Total Defence,” creating the ability of an entire society to withstand crisis.
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10,000 manufacturing and research jobs could land in Canada if Ottawa adds the aircraft to its military fleet, the Swedish manufacturer of the Gripen fighter jet, SAAB, has said.
He added that companies including Bombardier and CAE, which are both headquartered in Montreal, as well as Nova Scotia-based IMP Aerospace and Defence, could be part of a deal.
“If Canada wants to create sovereign capabilities and to do their own upgrades, to build parts of it, to do final assembly and test, we are prepared to do that,” said SAAB President and CEO Micael Johansson. “We could do a technology transfer to Canada and support that build up.”
A Canadian delegation that includes Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand officially welcomed the royal couple to Rideau Hall today.
Wagner is standing in for Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who is recovering from illness.
The royals will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and are set to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Parliament Hill this afternoon before attending a state dinner tonight.
A Global Affairs Canada news release reportedly says that Canada and Sweden will reaffirm their support for Ukraine at an afternoon event today.
