National Defence

The committee was studying the integration of the Canadian Coast Guard into the Department of National Defence and the modernization of NORAD. Appearing were Andy Smith, Deputy Commissioner of Shipbuilding and Materiel for the Canadian Coast Guard; Andrea Charron, Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba; and Peter Bates, a former Canadian political adviser to the commander of NORAD.

Andy Smith and his colleague Marc Mes, Deputy Commissioner of Coast Guard Programs, testified that the Coast Guard will remain a civilian, unarmed, non-combatant fleet under National Defence, with its new mandate limited to collecting and sharing information for security purposes, not law enforcement or military action. They stated that the transition will improve interoperability with the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly through common training, equipment, and procurement, and that the fleet renewal under the national shipbuilding strategy, including new polar icebreakers, will enable year-round Arctic presence. They disagreed with suggestions that Coast Guard vessels would be classified as combatants, arguing they are non-combatant by definition, and confirmed that no plans exist to arm ships or militarize personnel, though secure communications and sensor upgrades are planned.

Andrea Charron emphasized that NORAD modernization is critical for integrated air and missile defence, and that Canada must prioritize domain awareness projects to avoid becoming a weak link for allies. She recommended a categorical multi-party parliamentary statement that the defence of Canada is a core national interest, a named operation for NORAD in Canada with a dedicated budget, and a Canadian NORAD czar to coordinate whole-of-government efforts and lobby the U.S. government. She noted that the Arctic over-the-horizon radar system faces delays, leaving Canada vulnerable now, and that the golden dome initiative should be reframed as integrated air and missile defence, requiring a system of systems rather than a single solution.

Peter Bates argued that Canada is already in a war with Russia, and that NORAD must be treated as a genuine warfighting command, not a symbolic partnership, with investments in actual capabilities like munitions, platforms, and personnel rather than just sensors and command and control. He stated that the Trump administration is not a reliable partner and that Canada should pursue independent capabilities, such as ground-based air defence and more fighter aircraft, while working with U.S. allies within NORAD who value the partnership. He disagreed with the notion that golden dome is a serious program, calling it a potential rent-seeking effort, and recommended that Canada avoid adding to the Canadian Armed Forces' agenda until NORAD modernization is complete.

The committee also debated a motion to invite the Parliamentary Budget Officer to discuss a report on defence spending, which was put on notice but not voted on during the meeting.