CDA Conference (Ottawa 4-5 March 2026): Executive Summary

The theme of this year’s Conference of Defense Associations (CDA), which was organized and hosted by the Conference of Defense Institute (CDAI), in Ottawa 4-5 March 2026, was “The Road to Five Percent”. This year’s theme, examined how the current, and historically large defence spending increase to the Department of National Defence, could shape the Canadian Armed Forces, the economy, and Canada’s strategic position for years to come. This theme focused upon the Canadian Government’s objectives to increase defense spending to better equipe and prepare the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to protect our sovereignty and meet the domestic and international security challenges now and into the future, while being less reliant on our neighbour to the South.

The conference was well attended with excellent representation from the Department of National Defense, the CAF (the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), as well as the Commanders of the Canadian Navy, Army and Air Force) as well as an array of NATO and Indo-Pacific partners. Understandably, due to the on-going conflict with Iran, most of the senior American military representatives who had been scheduled to attend had withdrawn from the conference.

Expert discussion panels this year covered a range of important topics, including:

• Emerging threats to Canada’s national security
• Lessons from allies on whole-of-society defence approaches
• Mobilizing the Canadian Armed Forces through recruitment, retention, and strategic reserve development
• Innovation and sovereign capabilities in Canada’s defence future
• Forces integration and pan-domain operations
• Innovations in the battlespace (experiences of the Ukraine Defence Forces)

Other Topics that were addressed by various speakers and subject matter experts included:

• Procurement of Conventional Submarine fleet for the Canadian Navy;
• Arctic Sovereignty;
• Diversification (less reliance on the US, greater reliance on Canadian industry and partnership options with other international partners);
• Innovations in the battlespace -Lessons Learned from the War in Ukraine (four years and counting);
• Drone Technology / Un-manned weapon systems;
• Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous weapon systems;
• The Canadian Procurement Process (the need for major reform);
• The new Canadian Procurement strategy of “Build, Partner, Buy”; and
• The need for a National Systems Integrator.

Another important comment from the RCAF Commander, highlighted the need for more transparency regarding major capital projects – case in point, the procurement of the next-generation fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the need to inform / educate the Canadian public and stakeholders on the evolving Canadian Defence Procurement process and our National, North American, NATO and international obligations which influence that procurement requirements and process.

Stephen Fuhr, the Canadian Secretary of State Defence Procurement emphasized that the Canadian Government’s BOREALIS (Bureau of Research in Innovation and Science) plan, which was launched in 2025, remains a key, strategic defense initiative designed to accelerate research in frontier technologies – artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and cybersecurity – to bolster military sovereignty through faster procurement and multi-purpose technologies. The aim of the BOREALIS plan is to modernize the CAF by bridging the gap between innovative concepts and operational capabilities, reducing reliance on foreign technology.

The CDA Institute is a non-partisan, registered charity dedicated to advancing informed, evidence-based debate on issues of national security. The RCAF Association is a proud partner within the CDAI organization and recognizes the important role the CDA and the CDAI plays in the strategic dialogue on defence and advocacy for a strong, modern Canadian Armed Forces.

Brook Bangsboll
Executive Director
RCAF Association