I still remember the first time I saw a Senator tactical vehicle roll out at a security trade show in 2019. Sleek yet imposing, it stood as a testament to Canadian engineering – specifically from Ontario-based Roshel, a company that has quietly become a heavyweight in the armored vehicle industry. Five years later, their vehicles are crossing the border in significant numbers, heading for service with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a move that cuts against the grain of recent cross-border trade tensions, U.S. federal authorities have continued their procurement relationship with Roshel, recently confirming a deal for armored vehicles valued at approximately $35 million. The timing raises eyebrows given the recent disputes between Ottawa and Washington over everything from dairy quotas to aluminum tariffs.
“This contract demonstrates that security priorities often operate on a different track than broader trade disagreements,” explains Martha Findlay, trade policy analyst and former MP. “When it comes to border security equipment, reliability and technical specifications typically outweigh political considerations.”
The deal involves Roshel’s Senator tactical vehicles, which have gained popularity among law enforcement agencies for their balance of protection and mobility. The Ontario manufacturer has positioned itself as a North American alternative to European security vehicle giants, capitalizing on both the “Buy American” preferences in U.S. procurement and exceptions for Canadian products under various trade agreements.
What makes this procurement particularly noteworthy is its continuation despite recent friction between the Biden administration and the Trudeau government over various trade issues. Just last month, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai criticized Canada’s digital services tax as potentially discriminatory against American tech companies. Meanwhile, disputes over Canadian lumber and dairy products continue to simmer in the background.
ICE officials defended the purchase in a statement to media outlets, citing “operational requirements that the Roshel vehicles uniquely satisfy” and pointing to the company’s track record of delivering similar vehicles to other U.S. agencies. The vehicles will reportedly be deployed primarily for tactical operations along the southern border.
For Roshel, founded in 2016 and based in Mississauga, this represents another major milestone in their rapid growth trajectory. The company previously secured contracts with the U.S. State Department and has supplied armored vehicles to Ukraine’s defense forces since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“We’re seeing a strategic pivot in defense procurement where middle-power allies are strengthening their industrial cooperation,” notes Christyn Cianfarani, president of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries. “Even as political rhetoric heats up on trade, the defense and security sector often follows different rules of engagement.”
The vehicles themselves represent the evolving nature of border security equipment. Designed with ballistic protection and equipped with advanced communications systems, they reflect the increasingly complex operational environment facing border agencies. According to company specifications, the Senator can withstand various ballistic threats while maintaining the maneuverability needed for border patrol operations.
From an economic perspective, the deal highlights the deeply integrated nature of the North American security equipment market. “Despite the ‘Buy American’ pressures, there’s recognition that certain Canadian suppliers are effectively part of the U.S. industrial base,” says Dennis Darby, president of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
The procurement also occurs against the backdrop of ongoing debates about ICE’s budget and role. Critics have questioned the agency’s expanding equipment inventory, while supporters argue that modern security challenges require appropriate tools.
For communities near Roshel’s manufacturing facilities, the contract means continued employment and economic activity. The company employs about 120 people directly, with hundreds more jobs supported through its supply chain.
What does this transaction tell us about the state of Canada-U.S. relations? Perhaps that pragmatism still prevails in certain sectors even as political tensions ebb and flow. The security relationship between the two countries remains largely insulated from trade disputes that capture headlines.
This isn’t without precedent. Throughout previous trade confrontations – whether over softwood lumber in the early 2000s or steel tariffs under the Trump administration – defense and security cooperation generally continued uninterrupted.
As one former Canadian diplomat who requested anonymity put it: “The U.S. and Canada may bicker like siblings over trade issues, but when it comes to security cooperation, they tend to act more like business partners with a clear common interest.”
For Canadian defense contractors, this offers both reassurance and a strategic opening. By focusing on niche capabilities where they excel, they can potentially navigate the often choppy waters of cross-border trade politics.
The Roshel deal also points to the evolution of the Canada-U.S. defense industrial relationship. Traditionally dominated by aerospace giants like Bombardier and various shipbuilding contracts, the security equipment sector now includes smaller, more agile players developing specialized products.
As border security remains a priority for both countries, this particular industrial relationship seems poised to continue despite whatever trade storms may brew on the horizon. For now, the armored vehicles will keep rolling south, a tangible reminder that some cross-border business relationships run deeper than political headlines might suggest.
