NEWS RELEASE

Multinational NATO PA Delegation Visits Canada

From 17 to 21 April 2023, two North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) subcommittees – Transatlantic Defence and Security Cooperation, and Transatlantic Relations – held meetings and conducted site visits in Ottawa, Halifax and Montreal, Canada. In total, more than 30 parliamentarians from 14 NATO countries participated in the program.

Julie Dzerowicz, MP, Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, led a Canadian delegation to the meetings and visits; the other delegates were Senator Rebecca Patterson and Shelby Kramp-Neuman, MP. Other Canadian parliamentarians participating in activities included Senators Peter Boehm, Tony Dean, Pat Duncan, Clément Gignac, and MP’s Ali Ehsassi, Andy Fillmore, Darren Fisher, Cheryl Gallant, the Honourable John McKay, P.C., Christine Normandin, Jennifer O’Connell, and Pierre Paul-Hus.

“The Canadian delegation to the NATO PA was very pleased to host our colleagues from the legislatures of other NATO countries, especially because a NATO PA committee or subcommittee has not carried out a visit to Canada since 2017,” said Ms. Dzerowicz. “Visits such as these allow us to strengthen transatlantic ties, and stay abreast of developments in each other’s countries so that we can gain a better understanding of our shared priorities and concerns in an increasingly unpredictable defence and security landscape.”

The NATO PA’s 4 May 2023 report on the visit indicates that “the dramatically changed global security environment is prompting Canadian policymakers to revisit the country’s defence posture,” and to strengthen cooperation with other NATO members and partners to “push back against the authoritarian onslaught on the rules-based international order.” It adds that, in “the current Euro-Atlantic crisis, Canada has chosen to engage directly in support of its NATO Allies and its partner, Ukraine.”

During the meetings, participants discussed a range of issues, including some that are key Canadian priorities including:

• Canada’s Current and Future Contributions to NATO;
• Economic, Military and Political Assistance to Ukraine;
• the Modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD;
• Arctic Security;
• Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy;
• Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy;
• Climate Change and Security; and
• Women, Peace and Security.

“As a founding member, Canada’s commitment to NATO has always been steadfast,” underscored Ms. Dzerowicz. “Throughout their time in Canada, NATO PA delegates engaged in activities that demonstrate NATO’s importance to Canada, and Canada’s commitment to working with other NATO members to advance common goals.”

On 17 April 2023, NATO PA delegates heard from Department of National Defence and Global Affairs Canada officials about a number of Canadian defence and security priorities. They also met with: the Honourable Anita Anand, PC, MP, Minister of National Defence; General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff; and the Honourable Robert Oliphant, PC, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. As well, they had discussions with the chairs of four parliamentary committees: Senator Peter Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Senator Tony Dean, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veteran Affairs; the Honourable John McKay, PC, MP, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence; and Ali Ehsassi, MP, Chair of the House Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Finally, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Anthony Rota, and Ms. Dzerowicz hosted a reception for delegates.

On 18–19 April, NATO PA delegates met in Halifax with Commodore Trevor MacLean, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Canadian Fleet Atlantic, as well as other military officials, at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. They were briefed on the current missions of Canada’s naval fleets, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean, the recapitalization of Canadian naval capabilities through the purchase of six new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, and the development and implementation of the Canadian Surface Combatant project. Moreover well, they met with representatives from – and toured the facilities of – Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and IMP Aerospace and Defence. Finally, delegates attended a reception hosted by Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc.

On 20–21 April 2023, NATO PA delegates met in Montreal with representatives from Bombardier Inc. and CAE Inc., and toured their facilities. On the final day of their visit, they participated in a roundtable discussion with academics about the war in Ukraine, transatlantic security, Arctic security and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy at McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.

During their visit, NATO PA delegates also learned that Canada will host the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence in Montreal, Quebec, and the North American Regional Office of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Finally, Ms. Dzerowicz reminded the delegates that Canada will host the 70th NATO PA Annual Session in Montreal, Quebec, in November 2024. Parliamentarians from all NATO member countries are expected to attend this session.

Photos from the visit can be found on the Flickr account of the NATO PA.

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For further information:
Brett Hartley, Parliamentary Assistant to Julie Dzerowicz, MP and Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association
613-992-2576

Céline Ethier, Association Secretary of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association
CANA@parl.gc.ca