National Defence Committee on Jan. 26th, 2026

[Lgen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet]

I would say there are many lessons, not least of which is that we need to be able to modernize rapidly to keep pace with the speed at which adversaries are evolving their capabilities. Certainly the investments have to balance operational necessities and autonomy, but there is much value to be working with allies and partners.

I think Canada has tremendous opportunities and is on a path in the current NORAD modernization efforts to meet those adversary threats and increase strategic autonomy. In concert, it has the ability to work with allies and partners, which is going to be very key as we see what is happening around the world. There's much uncertainty and increased volatility and that's the environment we need to be planning for.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

For my next question, I invite any and all panel members to contribute to the response.

Canadians are very anxious about the current geopolitical landscape. From your perspective, what should Canadians be most confident about when it comes to Canada's approach to NORAD modernization over the next decade?

[Jonathan Quinn]

I can start, and I invite other panellists to weigh in as well.

I think Canadians can be confident that we're taking the threat and security environments very seriously. We understand the urgency of enhancing our ability to detect threats to the continent and to Canada, to deter them with credible capabilities and also to defeat any threats that end up materializing when deterrence fails. The investments we've outlined and the path the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are on demonstrate that seriousness.

I think Canadians should take comfort in that and be confident that we're moving really aggressively along that path to enhance our capabilities as quickly as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Thank you.

We're going to the next questioner.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, you have six minutes.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning everyone, and thank you for joining us. This is our first meeting of the year. There's an ongoing debate in Quebec to figure out until when it is okay to wish someone a happy new year. Since this is our first meeting this year, I'll wish us a happy new year. It's a pleasure to see you again.

I'd also like to thank the witnesses for joining us today and for their presentations.

Could the witnesses tell us about Quebec's industrial capacities, especially in Saint-Hubert and Valcartier? I think those are key industrial capacities. Is there an industrial strategy that targets Quebec's capacities in particular?

[Lgen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet]

Many aspects of the defence industrial strategy being developed by the government will benefit the Canadian defence industry in general, and there are numerous opportunities for Quebec. I can't speak specifically to a Quebec-focused strategy, but I can say that as we develop our aviation capacities and define our future needs for space activities, there will be many aerospace-related opportunities for the innovations and talents we find in some Quebec industries.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

We know, for example, that there are specialists and experts in the field of hypersonics in Quebec, and that hypersonics is the future. Could you elaborate on that stream?

[Lgen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet]

Are you talking about hypersonic missiles?

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Well, I understand that research clusters aren't limited to missiles, but there is research being done in this field in general.

[Lgen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet]

Many innovations and future technologies are being looked at, including hypersonics, drone development and sixth generation capacities. It could be sensors used in all sorts of devices. That said, technologies aren't limited.

Regarding AI, there are many opportunities when it comes to man and machine interactions. We'll find out what the possibilities are and how to take advantage of them.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

We heard from many experts about Canada's lack of preparation regarding infrastructures and technologies when it comes to hypersonic missiles. People are saying it's a development opportunity, but that we also need to prepare for a potential attack.

You're saying that new sensors and various modernization steps that you talked about, namely using AI, would allow us to respond to that threat. Have investments been made for that? Are plans being developed?

[Lgen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet]

I would say it's part of the overall plan. Thanks to our current capacities and ongoing projects and initiatives, we will be in a better position to integrate Canadian companies in the process to look at all those options.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

I'll ask you a question we never thought we'd hear in this forum. I don't know if you or someone else can answer.

Is there any surveillance being done?

Relations with our neighbours to the south have never been so tense. They're not what they used to be, but, it must be said, the U.S. is still an ally. Most surveillance and defence capacities are focused on the northern border. A plan to counter a potential American invasion has been sensationalized over the last few weeks. Pretty much every army in the world has that hanging over their head, anyway, so it's nothing new. Hopefully, we can burst that bubble, because we're not really making preparations for that.

That said, is there something brewing on the southern border?

[Jonathan Quinn]

Thank you for the question.

Here, I would just say that we're obviously very aware of the political dynamics and some of the hyperbole out there.

What I would stress is that we continue to have an extremely constructive relationship on the military side and on the civilian side, both in Colorado Springs through NORAD and with the Pentagon. We are in regular contact with our U.S. allies about how to work together for the defence of the shared continent, and that remains the big priority.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

You're not saying at all that the south is the new threat, that we're moving all our capacities from the northern border to the southern border, and that it's a matter of great urgency. You're saying the opposite and confirming that co-operation is still ongoing.

[Jonathan Quinn]

Absolutely. We're not focused on a military threat from the southern border. Really, the focus continues to be on collaborating with our U.S. allies in the defence of the shared continent.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

What you're saying is there's no need to be afraid of the bogeyman.

How much time do I have left, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

You're out.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Okay then. We'll talk again later.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Ms. Gallant, you have up to five minutes.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

With respect to the over-the-horizon radar, where are the installations going to be in Ontario, and why are they going to be there as opposed to existing installations that are already owned by DND?

[Peter Hammerschmidt]

The search for appropriate locations for the radar was an exhaustive search. The requirements are very inflexible and complicated. We have assessed, in total, over 500 sites since 2022. We started with DND lands and landed on the locations that are identified in Kawartha Lakes township and Clearview township.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

How long is the existing north warning system going to be operational? I'm looking at what gap will exist between the one in Ontario once it's up and running and the ones that are up and running now.

[Peter Hammerschmidt]

I can start and then perhaps pass it to General Speiser-Blanchet.

The north warning system continues to be operational. Over time, we will reassess that capability and the individual stations to determine which ones can continue to perform and contribute to the overall system of systems for surveillance for North America.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

The U.S. ambassador to Canada said recently that if we weren't going to buy the F-35s, then the U.S. would have to fill in the gaps we have left. Can you explain what gaps would be left behind if we were to cancel the F-35s for an inferior fighter jet?