The House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence met to continue its study on the modernization of NORAD. Witnesses included James Fergusson, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manitoba; Gaëlle Rivard Piché, Executive Director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute; Christopher Coates, Director of Foreign Policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute; P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Professor at Trent University; and Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
James Fergusson argued that the July 2025 lifting of restrictions on air and missile defence is ambiguous, as Canada has not clearly signalled participation in U.S. ballistic missile defence, including the "golden dome" initiative. He warned that NORAD modernization may be seen as "one and done," leaving Canada without capabilities against hypersonic and ballistic missiles, and urged Canada to negotiate expanded NORAD terms of reference to avoid marginalization. He disagreed with the notion that a national security strategy is needed first, calling instead for a national defence strategy.
Gaëlle Rivard Piché emphasized that the threat environment has evolved rapidly, with adversaries using hybrid tactics below the threshold of armed conflict, and that NORAD modernization timelines extending into the 2030s are too slow. She recommended accelerating investments, protecting critical infrastructure, and adopting a whole-of-government approach, including cybersecurity and domestic intelligence. She noted that depoliticizing the golden dome discussion is necessary for national security.
Christopher Coates stated that Canada currently has limited ability to defend against advanced aerospace threats and must accelerate NORAD modernization while clearly articulating support for U.S. ballistic missile defence. He called for Canada to declare its intention to partner on an integrated air and missile defence system, such as the golden dome, and to develop automated command and control systems to address gaps in civilian and military coordination. He agreed with others that the threat environment is worsening.
P. Whitney Lackenbauer traced the evolution of NORAD modernization from 2021 joint statements to the 2022 investment, noting that the golden dome represents a next step rather than a radical departure. He stressed the need for a clear Canadian narrative to explain these investments to the public, and advocated for deterrence by denial. He highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge and northern infrastructure, and disagreed that all technological solutions are already in place, calling for a renewed culture of innovation.
Tom Karako noted that missile threats, especially cruise missiles and non-ballistic systems, are a growing concern and that NORAD's legacy capabilities are insufficient. He emphasized the importance of sensors, including over-the-horizon radars and space-based air moving target indicators, and recommended exploring limited area defence zones for key infrastructure. He agreed with others that the threat is immediate and that Canada must act with urgency, but cautioned that eliminating all threats is impossible.
During the question period, members raised concerns about procurement dysfunction, the need for a national defence strategy, and the importance of accelerating delivery of capabilities. A notice of motion was tabled regarding a study of the Defence Investment Agency CEO appointment, but was not moved. The committee agreed to a request for additional maps showing radar and satellite coverage.
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