Question Period Note: Defence Advisory Forum

Stakeholders are seeking timely implementation of the Defence Advisory Forum announced under Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, with expectations that it will enhance engagement with industry, improve procurement outcomes, and ensure accountability for delivering results.

• The Defence Advisory Forum will provide a permanent, structured venue for engagement between the Government of Canada and the defence industry
  • The Forum will support the implementation of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy by improving engagement, identifying challenges earlier, and helping deliver results more effectively
  • This initiative reflects close collaboration across government, including National Defence, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
  • The Forum will also help strengthen Canadian industry, reinforce supply chains, and support innovation and sovereign capability in Canada. The Forum will include rotating members, national and regional associations, and Indigenous partners, with an open call for expressions of interest to ensure inclusive participation

The Defence Advisory Forum is a permanent engagement mechanism established under Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), released in February 2026, to provide a structured and ongoing venue for collaboration between the Government of Canada and the defence industry.

It will be co-chaired by the Ministers of National Defence and Minister of Industry, along with the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), reflecting a whole-of-government approach that integrates defence policy, industrial development, and procurement decision-making.

The Forum is intended not only to facilitate regular dialogue, but also to serve as a practical accountability mechanism supporting the implementation of the DIS, enabling early identification of challenges, tracking progress, and ensuring that policy commitments translate into concrete results.

Within the broader context of the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Forum plays a key role in advancing objectives such as strengthening domestic industrial capacity, improving procurement timelines, and aligning Canadian Armed Forces capability needs with Canadian industry capabilities under the build-partner-buy model.

It responds to longstanding industry calls for more predictable and continuous engagement and is expected to support outcomes including increased participation of Canadian firms in defence contracts, growth in exports, and enhanced innovation in areas such as digital systems, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies.

Unlike ad hoc consultations, the Forum is intended to serve as an ongoing accountability mechanism, allowing:

• regular tracking of progress against DIS commitments
• continuous feedback from industry stakeholders
• early identification of implementation risks

Industry stakeholders, including CADSI, have emphasized the importance of establishing the Forum quickly and ensuring it meets regularly, underscoring that its credibility will depend on delivering tangible results.

The Defence Advisory Forum will also support Canadian firms to grow, innovate, and compete globally, helping sustain high-quality jobs across Canada and strengthening defence readiness. By focusing engagement on priority sovereign capabilities, the Forum will help align industry capacity with Canada’s most critical defence needs, strengthening domestic capability, reducing strategic dependencies, and improving procurement outcomes. Industry is expected to have greater visibility into long-term government priorities, enabling companies to plan, invest, and innovate with confidence.

If pressed on accountability:

• the Defence Advisory Forum is designed as an ongoing accountability mechanism, not a one-time consultation or discussion table. It will provide a structured venue to monitor progress, identify challenges early, and support timely action
• it brings together senior decision-makers and industry partners on a regular basis, ensuring that issues are surfaced quickly and addressed in real time
• the Forum is directly tied to the implementation of the Defence Industrial Strategy, meaning discussions are focused on delivering concrete results such as faster procurement, stronger capabilities, and better outcomes for the Canadian Armed Forces
• clear governance, including ministerial co-chairs, will ensure oversight, coordination, and follow-through across departments

If pressed on industry influence:

• the Defence Advisory Forum will be structured, transparent, and inclusive by design, with rotating industry participation to ensure a broad range of perspectives are represented
• participation will reflect Canada’s diverse defence ecosystem, including small and medium-sized enterprises, regional associations, and Indigenous partners
• the Forum is advisory in nature and does not replace or influence established fair, open, and competitive procurement processes, which remain governed by clear rules and oversight
• its purpose is to ensure that government benefits from a wide range of expertise and perspectives, helping improve outcomes for the Canadian Armed Forces.
• all decisions related to procurement will continue to follow established processes that ensure fairness, transparency, and value for Canadians

If pressed on bureaucracy:

• intention is streamlining engagement and improving decision-making by bringing the right people together in a structured way
• the Forum will help reduce delays by identifying issues early and supporting faster, more coordinated action across government
• it is designed to move beyond ad hoc consultations toward regular, focused discussions tied directly to implementation and results
• the Forum aims to ensure that policy, procurement, and industry perspectives are aligned from the outset

• The Defence Advisory Forum is a formal, permanent commitment under the 2026 Defence Industrial Strategy
  • It will be co-chaired by three ministers, integrating defence, industrial, and procurement leadership
  • The Forum will include rotating representation from industry and is expected to include national and regional associations and Indigenous partners
  • It is intended to function as an ongoing advisory and accountability mechanism, not a one-time consultation
  • A call for expressions of interest for industry participation is expected in June 2026, with the inaugural meeting planned for the second half of 2026