Conference of Defence Associations Institute

Conference of Defence Associations Institute
Name	Conference of Defence Associations Institute
Established	1982
Type	Think tank
Purpose	Defence and security studies
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Region	Canada
Leader title	Executive Director

Contents

Conference of Defence Associations Institute is an independent Canadian defence and security policy institute based in Ottawa, Ontario, focusing on strategic studies, defence analysis and public policy. Founded amid debates involving Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Cold War, NATO and debates over procurement such as the Chinook helicopter and Canadian Forces transformation, the institute engages scholars, veterans and policy-makers from institutions including Royal Military College of Canada, Canadian Forces College, Carleton University, University of Toronto, and Queen's University. The institute interacts with parliamentary committees like the House of Commons of Canada's Standing Committee on National Defence and government departments such as Department of National Defence (Canada) and Public Safety Canada.

History

The institute traces its roots to the post-Vietnam War and late Cold War era debates over force structure, emerging in the context of events such as the Falklands War, the Gulf War, and NATO exercises including Able Archer; founders included veterans of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, scholars from McGill University, and officials from the Privy Council Office (Canada). Early activities mirrored contemporary policy disputes around the Queen Elizabeth II's reign and procurement controversies like the Sea King replacement and the CF-18 Hornet acquisition, engaging with think tanks such as the Fraser Institute, C.D. Howe Institute, Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and the Canadian International Council. Over decades the institute responded to crises including the Rwandan Genocide, Kosovo War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), the Iraq War, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine by convening panels of experts from NATO Parliamentary Assembly, United Nations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and veteran organizations like Royal Canadian Legion.

The institute's mission emphasizes policy advice, public education and informed debate on issues tied to strategic posture, defence procurement and veterans' affairs; it addresses topics ranging from Arctic sovereignty disputes involving Northwest Passage and Arctic Council states to alliance obligations under Article 5, counter‑insurgency lessons from ISIL, and implications of technologies promoted by firms like Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Thales Group and General Dynamics. Activities include briefings for committees such as the Senate of Canada's National Security and Defence Committee, testimony related to acts like the National Defence Act (Canada), and collaboration with academic programs at University of British Columbia, Université de Montréal, Dalhousie University and Simon Fraser University. The institute fosters dialogue with service branches including the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force, and with international partners from United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Australia and Sweden.

The institute publishes policy papers, monographs and commentary on force development, procurement case studies (e.g., Arms trade controversies like the F-35 Lightning II program), cyber security dialogues with stakeholders such as Communications Security Establishment, and analyses of operations including Operation Apollo and Operation Impact (2014–present). Research collaborations have linked scholars affiliated with King's College London, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, RAND Corporation, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Publications address legal and treaty frameworks such as the North Atlantic Treaty, the Ottawa Treaty, and discussions on nuclear policy referencing Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and history marked by Manhattan Project legacies, and are cited by media outlets like The Globe and Mail, National Post, CBC News, and The Hill Times.

The institute organizes annual conferences, roundtables and seminars featuring speakers from NATO Secretary General, former defence ministers (including figures associated with Paul Hellyer and John McCallum), senior military officers and scholars from Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University and Oxford University. Events have examined operations such as Operation Mobile, strategic doctrines influenced by thinkers linked to Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu studies, procurement forums comparing systems from Eurofighter Typhoon to Sukhoi Su-57, and workshops on interoperability with entities like NORAD and Five Eyes. The institute co-hosts symposiums with organizations including the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, IISS, NATO Defence College, and veterans' groups such as Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

Governance is overseen by a board composed of retired officers, academics and former public servants with links to institutions like Department of Finance (Canada), Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Privy Council Office (Canada), and universities including McMaster University and University of Alberta. Funding derives from memberships, donor contributions, grants from foundations such as the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and research contracts with provincial governments like Government of Ontario and federal agencies, alongside sponsorship by defence industry firms including CAE Inc. and Magellan Aerospace. Financial oversight aligns with regulations administered by Canada Revenue Agency for registered charities and non-profit corporations.

The institute partners with national and international entities including NATO, United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Arctic Council, European Union External Action Service, and academic consortia at Canadian Forces College and Royal Military College of Canada. Advocacy efforts involve submissions to parliamentary reviews, engagement with veterans' organizations such as Royal Canadian Legion and Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, and collaboration on public outreach with media outlets including CBC News, CTV News, and policy journals like International Journal, Canadian Military Journal and International Security. The institute's role situates it among peers including Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Fraser Institute, and C.D. Howe Institute in shaping debates on procurement, alliance commitments and defence readiness.

Category:Think tanks based in Canada Category:Defence policy organizations