Following the NATO summit and Canada’s commitments to increase defence spending, our senior fellow David Borys speaks with former Canadian Ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck about Canada’s role within the Alliance and the outcomes of the summit.

They discuss Canada’s progress toward NATO’s new defence spending targets, the need to translate spending commitments into military capabilities, and the role of defence procurement and industrial partnerships in supporting Canada’s contributions to the alliance. They also examine recent capability investments, including submarine procurement, and their implications for Arctic security, maritime operations, and Canada’s broader defence commitments.

Read Kerry Buck's latest article for The Globe & Mail: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opini...

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The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.

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The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.

Learn more: CDA Institute

Following the Canadian government’s selection of the German-Norwegian bid from TKMS as the preferred supplier for Canada’s Victoria-Class submarine replacement, our fellow David Borys speaks with RAdm (Ret’d) Luc Cassivi and VAdm (Ret’d) Mark Norman about the strategic, operational, and industrial implications of Canada’s largest naval acquisition in decades.

They discuss the factors that shaped the decision between competing international submarine proposals, including the importance of allied partnerships, Canada’s relationship with Norway, industrial benefits, and the broader strategic signals sent by the selection. They also examine the challenges ahead, including contract negotiations, sustainment infrastructure, timelines, and the need to build the personnel capacity required to operate and support a larger submarine fleet.

Beyond the acquisition itself, the conversation explores how a new fleet of submarines could reshape Canada’s underwater warfare capabilities, strengthen NATO contributions, enhance Arctic and maritime security, and provide an opportunity to rebuild long-term expertise and capacity within the Royal Canadian Navy.

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📬 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.

Learn more: https://cdainstitute.ca/

The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.

Learn more: CDA Institute

In February 2026, Canada launched its first Defence Industrial Strategy, backed by major new funding through the Business Development Bank of Canada and the StrongNorth Fund, marking a push to modernize the country’s defence industrial base as global conflict accelerates and technology cycles compress.

In today’s episode of the Expert Series, Glenn Cowan, former JTF2 squadron commander and founder of One Nine, examines how venture capital and private investment are becoming increasingly important to national security and defence innovation in Canada.

He discusses the mismatch between traditional procurement systems and fast-moving early-stage technology companies, the structural gaps between government, industry, and end users, as well as recent Canadian policy shifts and increased public capital flows into defence, and what it will take to build a faster, more responsive, and investment-ready defence ecosystem.

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📬 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