About

This year’s annual conference, “Canada’s National Strategic Relations: NATO & NORAD,” is being jointly hosted by the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute (CDFAI) and the Canadian International Council (CIC) on 2 November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa.

Canadian leadership has long recognized that with its small population widely dispersed across the country, but clustered close to the Canada-US border, the defence of its vast territory and huge three-ocean coastline requires alliances. Canada first sheltered under the protection of the British Empire and Royal Navy. In 1940, Canada began to turn to the United States for continental security. Since the Second World War, Canadian national security has been rooted in the collective security of NATO, formed sixty years ago in April, 1949; and the bilateral/binational umbrella of NORAD, established in 1958.

The two panels, one on NATO and the other on NORAD, will seek to address the future of Canada’s role in both institutions. The six panelists together will provide a wealth of academic and real-world experience and there will be plenty of time for attendees and panelists to discuss each issue. Further insight will be provided by our keynotes:

• The Honourable Bill Graham, former Minister of National Defence

• Dr. Josef Joffe, publisher of a weekly German newspaper Die Zeit

• Mr. Dwight Mason, former U.S. Deputy Ambassador to Canada

The registration fees for the conference are:

• Regular: $150.00 CDN

• CIC Members: $125.00 CDN

• Student: $ 75.00 CDN

Please visit the Registration page for more information on how to register.

We look forward to seeing you in November!