Ottawa Conference | March 4th-5th 2026

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The Road to 5 Percent

Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence

March 4-5, 2026
Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario

2026 Ottawa Conference Wrap-Up: The Road to 5 Percent

The Ottawa Conference brought together senior decision-makers, military leaders, industry partners, academics, and civil society for two days of in-depth dialogue on the theme The Road to 5%, which explored what Canada’s historic increases in defence spending means for our national security, sovereignty, and future readiness.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our panelists, moderators, CDA Institute Board members, and staff for their dedication in making this year’s conference a success. Special acknowledgment to the Captain Nichola Goddard Award Laureate, Major Elizabeth Thebault.

Panels this year covered a range of timely topics, including:

Emerging threats to Canada’s national security
Lessons from allies on whole-of-society defence approaches
Mobilizing the Canadian Armed Forces through recruitment, retention, and strategic reserve development
Innovation and sovereign capabilities in Canada’s defence future
Forces integration and pan-domain operations

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and partners. Your support ensures these important conversations continue at a critical juncture for Canada and our allies.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year at the Westin (March 10-11, 2027) for another engaging and insightful Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence.

THE ROAD TO 5 PERCENT

In June 2025, the federal government announced its intention to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This historic commitment will expand the size, structure, and readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces, strengthening Canada’s capabilities across all domains. Yet the path to 5% is about more than increasing military capacity—it requires careful choices to safeguard Canada’s sovereignty, security, and prosperity.

Over two days, through panels, keynote addresses, and closed sessions, the Ottawa Conference will examine the threats Canada faces and the importance of remaining a credible ally; lessons from abroad to transform defence procurement; the economic and social impacts of this investment on Canadian society; the development of a robust Canadian defence industrial base; the role of private investment, venture capital, and sovereign technology; and the importance of diplomacy and foreign policy in shaping national security and defence.

Now in its 94th year, the Ottawa conference is Canada’s premier defence national security forum. Over two days, the event brings together senior government decision-makers, military officials, leading academics, civil society experts, and industry partners to tackle the most pressing national security and defence challenges facing Canada today.

Hosted in cooperation with the Department of National Defence, the Ottawa conference draws a wide range of participants from across the defence and security community. Past attendees have included high-level ministers, general and flag officers, international partners from the Five Eyes, NORAD, and NATO, foreign diplomatic delegations, as well as representatives from across the Government of Canada, including more than 20 federal departments and agencies.

The Ottawa conference is streamed publicly through Canada’s parliamentary cable network, CPAC, with no cost or registration required. Recordings will be available afterward in the CPAC Video Archive.

Speakers

Full speaker list to be announced shortly.
Click on speaker names to view their biographies.

We encourage you to subscribe to the CDA Institute newsletter to stay informed on speaker announcements and the upcoming release of the Ottawa Conference agenda.

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