In the last session of Canada’s Defence Perspectives 2020-2050: Recapitalization and the Canadian Forces, the panelists provided an overview of key considerations for future defence planning, focusing on the procurement process, strategies for technological innovation, and future defence and security capability requirements.
“Improving Canada’s Defence Procurement Strategy in the 21st Century” included four panelists: Colonel (Ret’d) Charles Davies from the Conference of Defence Associations Institute asserted that defence procurement is about transforming inputs into outputs; Dr. Craig Stone remarked that there is no rational economic basis to peg defence spending at 2% of GDP, and suggested spending should be based on the assessed needs of each country; Patrick Finn, Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at the Department of National Defence, stressed the need for in-service support; and Christyn Cianfarani, President of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), stated that the government must incentivize companies to develop disruptive technologies, and provide opportunities to scale up, integrate, and otherwise carry forward those technologies.
