Conference of Defence Associations Institute

CDA Institute
  • 5.0 (1)
  • POLITICS

The CDA Institute's programming convenes experts in Canadian defence, international security, and politics to provide nuanced discussion about current and ongoing issues in defence and security. https://cdainstitute.ca/

  1. Canada Narrows Choice for New Submarines

    4H AGO

    Canada Narrows Choice for New Submarines

    Canada has shortlisted two international shipbuilders, Germany's TKMS and South Korea's Hanwha Ocean, for its Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, which aims to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's aging Victoria-class submarines. The program plans to acquire up to 12 conventionally powered submarines with under-ice capability and extended endurance, with the first delivery targeted for the mid-2030s. Both bids are now being evaluated for technical performance, delivery timelines, and potential economic benefits to Canadian industry. A final selection could be made as early as late 2025 or early 2026, with contract signing to follow. Full fleet delivery is projected to occur in the 2040s. On today's episode, CDAI Board members VAdm (Ret) Bob Davidson and RAdm (Ret) Luc Cassivi discuss Canada’s submarine replacement efforts, implications of the downselection and the factors that lead to the shortlisting, technical requirements of the new submarine fleet, Canada's industrial capacity to contribute to the construction of the new submarines, managing long-term sustainment, interoperability with allies, and the potential impact of the new defence procurement agency on the submarine acquisition process. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    54 min
  2. Carney Launches New Defence Investment Agency

    OCT 2

    Carney Launches New Defence Investment Agency

    Yesterday, as part of ongoing measures to streamline defence procurement, Prime Minister Carney and the Liberal government launched a Defence Investment Agency (DIA), tasked with accelerating the purchase and delivery of essential military equipment. The DIA aims to ensure that the CAF receives what it needs with minimal delay, while also promoting domestic industry growth. The agency’s creation comes at a time when Canada is seeking to diversify its defence partnerships with allies. On this week’s episode, Wendy Gilmour, Jeff Tasseron, and Ugurhan Berkok joined us to discuss several key aspects surrounding the creation of the Defence Investment Agency (DIA), offering insights into its intended role in Canada’s defence strategy. They examine how the agency aims to streamline the procurement process, gaps in Canada's defence industrial capacity, challenges in building the necessary domestic capacity, the development of a defence industrial strategy, the potential for increased integration with Europe’s defence industrial base through Rearm Europe, and the challenges in setting up the DIA and avoiding disruption of existing procurement processes and projects. Wendy Gilmour is the CDA Institute’s Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and former NATO Assistant Secretary for Defence Investment, Jeff Tasseron is CAE’s Director of Strategy and Innovation, and Dr. Ugurhan Berkok is an Associate Professor of Economics at Royal Military College. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    42 min
  3. Is Bureaucracy Hindering Military Preparedness? Modernizing Canadian Artillery

    SEP 26

    Is Bureaucracy Hindering Military Preparedness? Modernizing Canadian Artillery

    On this week's episode of The Expert Series, Anne Rifenstein sits down with Colonel (Ret'd) Stefan Boucher and Lieutenant General (Ret'd) Andrew Leslie to give a big picture analysis for the Canadian artillery's role over the next ten years for Canada. They point towards the reactionary approach to defence funding and how it addresses the Army, discuss the best pathways forward for the Artillery to develop its personnel and training programs, and the technological assets that would best serve the agenda of continental defence. Learn more about the RCAA: https://rca-arc.org/ Subscribe to the RCAA's YouTube channel:    / @theroyalcanadianartillerya2505  ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    44 min
  4. NATO Article 4 Talks | Canada & Poland Strengthen Defence Relationship

    SEP 18

    NATO Article 4 Talks | Canada & Poland Strengthen Defence Relationship

    In early September, Poland reported a major escalation in Russian drone activity, with 19 drones penetrating Polish airspace. In response, Warsaw initiated consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, a rare move that signalled concern the security of the entire Alliance.  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also made a high-profile visit to Warsaw, where he met with Polish leaders and issued a joint statement reaffirming Canada's commitment to regional security and defence cooperation with Poland. To unpack these latest developments as well as the Canada-Poland defence relationship we’re joined by Polish ambassador to Canada, Witold Dzielski. Ambassador Dzielski discusses Poland's response to Russia’s drone incursion and the broader NATO security implications, NATO’s adaptability to evolving threats, stressing the importance of political will and rapid response, the current Canada-Poland defense relationship, joint operations in Latvia and Ukraine, the outcomes from Prime Minister Carney’s recent visit to Warsaw, and suggests that Canada can draw valuable lessons from Poland’s military spending and defence reforms.  ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cdainstitute/ ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute.bsky.social ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    32 min
  5. Will the Coast Guard's shift to DND & the Ice Pact Strengthen Canadian Security & Industry?

    SEP 11

    Will the Coast Guard's shift to DND & the Ice Pact Strengthen Canadian Security & Industry?

    In response to an increasingly complex and competitive Arctic security environment, Canada has taken major steps to strengthen its maritime capabilities. Over the past year, this has included joining the trilateral "Ice Pact" with the U.S. and Finland, beginning construction on two heavy polar icebreakers, and integrating the Canadian Coast Guard into the Department of National Defence. These developments mark a significant evolution in how Canada approaches Arctic sovereignty, maritime security, and allied interoperability. On this week's episode of The Expert Series, Chris Henderson discusses the rationale and implications behind the integration of the Canadian Coast Guard into the Department of National Defence, the Coast Guard’s evolving national security and law enforcement mandate, the “Ice Pack” agreement with the U.S. and Finland, the geopolitical motivations behind the Ice Pact agreement and its industrial and technological benefits, industrial policy, and long-term governance options for the Coast Guard. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    40 min
  6. What challenges and opportunities will the River-Class Destroyer pose for Canada's naval strategy?

    SEP 5

    What challenges and opportunities will the River-Class Destroyer pose for Canada's naval strategy?

    The River-class destroyer is needed to address the aging and retiring fleet of Iroquois and Halifax-class warships, whose capabilities no longer meet current and future operational demands. These new ships will ensure Canada maintains a credible naval presence to support national defence, international alliances, and emerging security challenges, particularly in strategic regions like the Indo-Pacific and the Arctic. On this week's Expert Series podcast, Tim Addison, Director of Naval Affairs, NAC & President, Ottawa Branch, discusses the River Class Destroyer’s intended role in international deployments and sea control missions, the integration of advanced sensors and an upgraded command and control system including cooperative engagement capabilities, the potential to adapt these systems for use in other naval and Coast Guard assets, the implications of integrating the Canadian Coast Guard under the Department of National Defence, the political and financial challenges of the procurement process including cost estimation and risk of politicization, the significance of the National Shipbuilding Strategy in maintaining industrial capacity and economic benefits, and the expected technical and operational challenges associated with building Canada's most complex warship to date. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    34 min
  7. What Has Canada Learned from Op UNIFIER?

    AUG 15

    What Has Canada Learned from Op UNIFIER?

    Through Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s ongoing support for Ukraine demonstrates the critical role of middle powers in combatting contemporary security challenges. Since 2015, Op UNIFIER has provided training and advisory support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Helping to strengthen their capacity, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has served as a bridge to increase Ukrainian’s interoperability with other NATO partners. Particularly since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the mission has adapted to sustain Ukraine’s defence and institutional reforms by moving to third-country locations (remaining under Canadian direction). In this week’s Expert Series, Lieutenant Colonel Cole Petersen, (ret'd) Major General Bill Seymour, and Jill Sinclair examine the evolution and ongoing impact of Op UNIFIER. They discuss the mission’s early stages, the Ukrainian request for assistance, and the collaborative NATO response, including the Multinational Joint Commission. The panelists highlight Canada’s unique contributions to building trust and capacity, the integration of new operational technologies such as drones, and the challenges of adapting training and support to Ukraine’s changing needs. In discussion, panelists also highlight the broader implications of Canadian involvement in Op UNIFIER, through emphasis on the strategic value of international cooperation and lessons learned for the CAF. By doing so, they examined the vital role this mission has played in reinforcing Canada’s role as a cornerstone of Allied defence. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and educa The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    1h 4m
  8. Can Canada Realistically Diversify Its Defence Partnerships Beyond the U.S.?

    AUG 13

    Can Canada Realistically Diversify Its Defence Partnerships Beyond the U.S.?

    The rapidly shifting international environment has sparked renewed interest in CANZUK cooperation as a potential axis for middle powers seeking to safeguard their autonomy and security. While Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand have a long history of informal defence collaboration through arrangements like the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, formalizing CANZUK into a robust security partnership faces practical hurdles. In this week’s Expert Series, John Blaxland and Srdjan Vucetic explore the feasibility of Canada pivoting toward deeper defence cooperation and engagement within hypothetical alliances like CANZUK, given its geographic and economic dependence on the U.S. They discuss the existing defence collaboration between Canada and “ANZUK”, the impact of shifting U.S. foreign policy on the international system, and the emergence of a multipolar world. They also touch on the strategic rationale for hedging against the U.S. and other regional powers, the challenges Canada faces in diversifying its defence partnerships, and why CANZUK is likely to remain more of a concept than a concrete alliance. ➡️ LinkedIn:   / cdainstitute  ➡️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/CDAInstitute ➡️ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cdainstitute... ➡️ Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ih7SU 📬 Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest defence and security updates delivered to your inbox: https://bit.ly/4fQ2wDV The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security. Learn more: CDA Institute

    45 min
See All (98)

About

The CDA Institute's programming convenes experts in Canadian defence, international security, and politics to provide nuanced discussion about current and ongoing issues in defence and security. https://cdainstitute.ca/

Information

You Might Also Like