Speech
- Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
- Senators,
- Members of the House of Commons,
- General Eyre,
- Members of the Canadian Armed Forces,
- Distinguished guests from around the world.
Good morning. Bienvenue. And welcome to Ottawa.
I would like to sincerely thank Executive Director Youri Cormier and everyone at CDAI for giving me the opportunity to speak to you.
Friends, we gather today at an inflection point.
The international rules that have preserved peace, stability, and democracy for decades are under direct threat, as Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its second year.
Putin thought that Kyiv would fall.
He thought he could use this winter to conquer Ukraine.
He thought that Europe would freeze in the dark.
And he thought that NATO would fracture.
But he was wrong.
The NATO alliance has only become stronger. Winter in Ukraine is almost over.
Amidst the rubble, spring flowers are beginning to bloom in Ukraine.
And, the Ukrainian flag continues to fly overhead.
In the face of Putin’s imperial illusions, the strength, hope, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people are inspiring the world.
Canada has stood in solidarity with Ukraine from the beginning.
- We have committed over one billion dollars of military aid for Ukraine – including, most recently, eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks, over 200 armoured vehicles, and a NASAMS air defence system.
- We have trained thirty-five thousand Ukrainian personnel under Operation UNIFIER,
- And earlier this week, we announced that we are extending Canadian training of Ukrainian sappers in Poland through to October and deploying an additional team of Canadian Armed Forces medical personnel to Poland, where they will train Ukrainian forces in advanced tactical medical skills.
And I would like to recognize General Wayne Eyre, our Chief of the Defence Staff, who has just returned from visiting our personnel deployed on Operation UNIFIER.
Thank you, Chief, for your leadership.
- We are also supporting Ukraine by deploying the Royal Canadian Air Force to Prestwick, Scotland, a hub from which our aviators have transported over seven million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid within Europe, from Canada, and on behalf of our Allies and partners.
- Their unwavering dedication is exemplified by their motto – Can’t stop, won’t stop – and that’s a motto that we believe in too.But let’s be clear: while Ukraine’s fight for freedom and sovereignty remains the focus, the security challenges do not end with Europe.
China is an increasingly disruptive global power. It increasingly disregards international rules and norms, and it is making large-scale investments to establish its military capabilities.
As China continues to militarize that region, it is also challenging navigation and overflight rights, and it has engaged in coercive diplomacy.
Canada must, and will, unapologetically defend our national interests, as we outlined in our Indo-Pacific Strategy.
In order to respond to global challenges like these, and protect Canadian interests both at home and abroad, we need to build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow – and this is what I’m here to discuss.
How do we ensure that we are ready for tomorrow?
We start with our people, who must be protected, respected, and empowered to serve when they put on their uniform every day. As such, my top priority continues to be meaningful, durable, and robust culture change across our institution.
Culture change is a team effort, and I salute the many culture change champions here today.
Being ready for tomorrow also involves recapitalizing.
And we are focused on providing the Canadian Armed Forces the equipment that they need to do their jobs and defend Canada.
As part of our Strong, Secure, Engaged defence policy, we have committed to increasing our military spending by more than 70% in nine years.
Last year, and as the world changed before our eyes, we knew we needed to go further.
That’s why, through Budget 2022, we added eight billion dollars in new defence spending over five years.
With these investments, we are modernizing our capabilities across all domains – and this is a definite priority for me as Minister.
We are signing contracts, finalizing procurements, moving faster, and pushing harder, to deliver our personnel the materiel, resources, and equipment that they need to do their jobs and protect Canada.
And, ultimately, we are building a Canadian Armed Forces that will be ready for tomorrow.
Let me start with the Air Force. We’re ensuring that the Royal Canadian Air Force is ready for tomorrow.
As I announced in January, Canada is acquiring a new fleet of eighty-eight F-35 fighter jets.
These state-of-the-art aircraft are the best fighters for Canada, and they will solidify our ability to protect Canada for decades to come.
Our investments in the Royal Canadian Air Force include not only aircraft, but also the infrastructure required for these aircraft at both the Cold Lake and Bagotville bases.
That’s not all.
One of our Air Force’s most important missions is the protection of the North American continent – and that’s why, in June 2022, we announced Canada’s plan to modernize NORAD, backed by an investment of 38.6 billion dollars over the next two decades.
This plan invests in:
- Arctic and Polar Over-the-Horizon radar,
- C2,
- air weapons,
- infrastructure,
- research,
- and development.
And, as we make these investments, we will work hand-in-hand with Indigenous and Northern partners, to ensure that the economic benefits are shared from coast to coast to coast.
And at sea? We’re building a Navy that’s ready for tomorrow.
We continue the work of delivering a new fleet of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants for our Navy, with the project now in its design phase and construction expected to begin next year.
This is the largest modernization of our naval fleet in decades, and it will ensure excellent interoperability with our allies.
On land, we are building a Canadian Army that’s ready for tomorrow.
We are equipping the Canadian Army with a new and modern fleet of 360 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, replacing the current LAV II Bisons and M113 Tracked LAV fleets.
This fleet will serve as ambulances, mobile repair and vehicle recovery vehicles, as well as engineer support vehicles and command posts, for both domestic and international operations.
But, we know that there are several crucial capabilities that we need to move ahead with – faster.
Canada’s largest foreign military deployment is on NATO’s eastern flank, in Latvia, and our troops must have the equipment that they need to protect themselves and do their jobs.
And that is why today, I am delighted to share with you that we are proceeding with three procurements as Urgent Operational Requirements – or UORs.
Through this accelerated procurement mechanism, we will rapidly deliver the following equipment for our Canadian Armed Forces.
- First: Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems – capable of providing targeted strikes against armoured threats. This project will provide PAXM systems including missiles, simulators and associated support to empower the Canadian Armed Forces with training and the capability to effectively destroy main battle tanks.
- Second: a Counter Un-crewed Aerial System capability, to provide protection against hostile un-crewed aerial vehicles – and this capability, too, will help protect our personnel deployed in Europe.
- And third: a short-range Air Defence System, which will also be capable of defeating attack aircraft and Class 1 un-crewed aerial systems in the context of the Canadian-led, enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia.
Today, I am delighted to announce that we are proceeding with three procurements as Urgent Operational Requirements. Through this accelerated procurement mechanism, we will rapidly acquire the following:
- Anti‑Tank Guided Missile systems,
- a Counter Un-crewed Aerial System capability, and
- a short‑range Air Defence System.
These projects will better equip our Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on NATO’s Eastern Flank with the capabilities that they need.
Canada’s leadership of the NATO Battle Group in Latvia demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the Alliance. And these new capabilities will further bolster the security of Allied troops under Canadian command on NATO’s Eastern Flank.
As we continue to equip our people in the traditional domains, we must also be laser-focused on emerging domains like space – and we must ensure that we are ready for tomorrow.
Last summer, I ordered the creation of 3 Canadian Space Division.
This reorganization of the Canadian Armed Forces serves to facilitate decision-making on matters related to the protection of Canadian assets in space. It will help us observe and attribute irresponsible behaviour in space and allow us to continue to establish common standards of responsible behaviour.
It also allows Canada to further its collaboration with partnered and allied armed forces such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Germany.
Space is crucial to our national security.
Canada uses military and civilian assets in space, including GPS and communications systems.
If those assets are threatened by adversaries, we risk losing our cell phone services, our banking, our internet, and our navigation systems.
It is critical that we are aware of what’s happening in the space domain, so that we can monitor adversaries, support our allies, and safeguard our interests.
Today, I have some exciting news to share in this regard.
I’m thrilled to announce that we have awarded a contract for a new agile microsatellite designed, built, and operated in Canada.
Thanks to a Federal investment of 15.8 million dollars, the Redwing Space Domain Awareness Microsatellite project, will monitor objects orbiting the earth, to help reduce future risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris or human-caused interference.
Design, manufacturing and operations will be led by Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
And, ground stations will be located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories and Happy Valley Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
When launched in late 2026, this research and development satellite system will identify and help to reduce risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris and human-caused interference.
Why does space domain awareness matter?
In November 2021, Russia decided to fire a missile into one of its own old satellites as part of its anti-satellite weapons testing.
The over fifteen hundred pieces of debris generated by the strike are contributing to the pollution of the low-earth orbit and endangering our assets.
Countries like Russia are demonstrating recklessness in the space domain – but Canada, for its part, will always act responsibly in space.
And finally, but no less importantly, let me touch on the cyber domain.
The cyber domain is here to stay. It will shape the conflicts of today and tomorrow, and Canada will remain ready to protect itself, now and tomorrow.
Last winter, we saw Russia disrupt the Viasat KA-SAT Satellite internet service, which rendered critical infrastructure for Internet and communications inoperable in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe.
Canada have the capabilities to help our allies and partners in Europe, and we are doing so. In support of Ukraine, we provide cyber intelligence and threat analysis, cyber security, and are engaged in cyber operations.
Outside of Ukraine, we have been supporting Latvia with a Cyber Task Force since last year – to help protect our Allies, and protect our NATO Allies against aggression in the cyber domain.
Friends, that is what we are doing in five crucial domains to build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow.
And to help us in these efforts, we are updating our 2017 Defence Policy to better reflect our rapidly changing world.
It is critically important that we get this right, which is why we have been engaging stakeholders across Canada, as well as our Allies and partners, to inform our way forward.
Today, we’re launching public consultations with all Canadians on our Defence Policy Update – or DPU.
We have launched a new digital platform where Canadians can learn more and share your ideas for the DPU – and I invite you all to contribute online.
We want to hear from you on how to recruit and retain talented Canadians, how to create sustainable cultural change, how to meet the needs of Canadians in the event of a natural disaster, and much more.
This consultation process also includes targeted discussions with:
- Indigenous and Northern communities and leaders, who are integral partners in safeguarding Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.
- NATO Allies, Five Eyes partners, and other like-minded countries.
- And of course, Canadian industry representatives, defence and security companies, national security experts and scholars .
Our Canadian defence industry is innovative, dynamic, and bold.
You engineer the impossible. And you help us maintain a strategic edge over our competitors. So, we see you as key partners in our work to modernize.
We must also remember that Canada’s economic prosperity is fundamentally linked with our national security. Therefore, we must ensure the stability of our supply chains, and uphold our resiliency by strengthening our ties to our closest partners.
Our investments will provide tremendous economic opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.
And by working together, I am confident that we can address the threats of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.
Friends,
We are at an inflection point in the history of conflict. And that is why there is an urgent to build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow.
For much of history, a military’s effectiveness was characterized by a steady accumulation of strength – simply having a bigger arsenal.
However, today’s era of military competition is also defined by speed, agility, and interoperability.
In a changing world, we are ensuring that our military has what it needs for tomorrow.
- The urgent procurement of Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems, a Counter-UAS capability and a short-range Air Defence System will strengthen our abilities in the traditional domains of conflict.
- And, for emerging domains like space, the Redwing Microsatellite contract award announced today will enhance our awareness and reduce risks to Canada’s assets in space.
We know, to stay agile, we must be prepared to push back against threats in all domains, sometimes all at once.
Let me conclude by addressing our military members directly:
You are at the heart of our work to protect Canada. And we are acting quickly to give you the tools you need to do your job.
Modernization involves not just the members of our military, but our industry partners, our friends in academia and think tanks, Indigenous partners, and Canadians.
National security is a team endeavour. And we are all part of Team Canada.
Together, we will build a Canadian Armed Forces ready for tomorrow.
I wish you all a productive conference, and I look forward to hearing more about your important, forward-thinking conversations.
Thank you. Merci.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/03/cdai-ottawa-conference-on-security-and-defence---a-canadian-armed-forces-ready-for-tomorrow.html
