Standing Committee on National Defence

Comité permanent de la défense nationale

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 18, 2018 -

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence presented, in the House of Commons, its unanimous report entitled Canada and NATO: An Alliance Forged in Strength and Reliability.

The Committee’s report contains 27 recommendations relating to Canada’s involvement in NATO. It includes recommendations in such areas as NATO’s programs and operations, public outreach, educational awareness and communications, issues in relation to NATO procurement and the defence industrial sector, research and development on new technologies, cyber defence, Arctic and maritime security, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, security sector reform, nuclear disarmament, and NATO’s unity and interoperability.

“As a founding member of NATO, Canada has been a reliable and strong partner, and remains committed to both NATO and the collective security of NATO countries. Certainly, Canada matters to NATO, and NATO matters to Canada,” said Mr. Stephen Fuhr, M.P., Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence.

Mr. Fuhr continued: “The Committee’s witnesses repeatedly highlighted Canada’s leadership within NATO, the value of the country’s contributions, and the recognized professionalism and interoperability of the Canadian Armed Forces with other NATO countries. Committee members are agreed that Canada is a well-respected ally within NATO.”

“However, the Committee also heard that Canada could do more to support NATO in a number of areas, and these areas of possible improvement are reflected in the Committee’s recommendations,” concluded Mr. Fuhr.

During its study, the Committee held 17 meetings in Ottawa between 4 October 2017 and 29 March 2018. Testimony was received from such witnesses as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canadian and Latvian government and military officials, and various academics and stakeholders. In addition, between 18 and 23 September 2017, the Committee travelled to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium and to Riga, Latvia to meet with NATO representatives, as well as with Canadian and Latvian government and military officials. While in Latvia, the Committee visited the Canadian-led NATO enhance Forward Presence multinational battlegroup set up at the Adazi military base near Riga, which is comprised of assets and personnel from seven NATO countries – including Canada – and operates with Latvian forces.

The Committee’s report can be accessed on the website.