Minister Blair's Keynote Remarks at the 15th Halifax International Security Forum
National Defence
2023-11-19
Speech
Check against delivery
Introduction
- Ministers,
- Ambassadors,
- Members of Parliament and Members of Congress,
- General Eyre and Members of the Canadian Armed Forces,
- Deputy Minister Matthews,
- Peter,
- Distinguished Guests,
Good afternoon. Bonjour.
To those of you visiting us - welcome to Canada.
I'm honoured to welcome you to the Halifax International Security Forum, which is taking place on the traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq people.
This is my first Halifax Forum, but its excellent reputation precedes it.
A reputation dating back 15 years, as the world's foremost security conference for democracies.
Peter - congratulations to you and your team on this anniversary.
Of course, global security challenges have evolved significantly over that time.
We're seeing increasing threats to the rules-based international order.
We're seeing rapid technological advances.
We're seeing how climate change is increasing the demands on our Armed Forces here at home.
And we're seeing a war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
We are fortunate to be a considerable distance from many of the conflicts that roil our world. But our world is becoming increasingly interconnected.
We do not live in splendid isolation.
These global challenges have a direct impact on Canadians: on our security, on our families abroad, on our cost of living, and on the future that we will leave to our kids and grandkids.
In challenging times like these, Canada's position remains clear:
Freedom matters.
Democracy matters.
Sovereignty matters.
And the international rules that have kept us safe since the end of the Second World War matter.
For our citizens - we have an obligation to strengthen those rules and uphold that order.
I'm convinced that together, we can strengthen the international rules that keep us all safe. We can meet the security challenges of today and tomorrow.
But we've got a lot of work to do.
That work requires alliances, like NATO and NORAD.
It requires personnel, readiness, and investment.
And it requires frank discussion, that we have all come to expect here in Halifax, as the leading security conference of democracies.
1. Middle East
A month and a half ago, on October 7, Israel was brutally attacked by the terrorist organization, Hamas.
Approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians were slaughtered. Over 200 Israelis and foreign nationals were taken hostage, including citizens from many of your countries.
We've all seen the heartbreaking footage from Israel over the last month: families torn apart, parents who've lost their young children, and innocent people kidnapped during a day of celebration.
Canada unequivocally condemns this terror attack, and we support Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
I reiterate Prime Minister Trudeau's call for Hamas to immediately release all hostages held in Gaza. And last week, Canada's House of Commons unanimously passed a motion to the same effect.
As Prime Minister Trudeau has said, the price of justice cannot be the suffering of all Palestinians.
The protection of civilians must be paramount. And, Hamas must stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields.
We have all seen terrible images of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. To help support civilians who urgently need help, Canada has already committed 60 million dollars in humanitarian assistance.
We reiterate the need to ensure safe and unimpeded access to life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and for a humanitarian pause, so that aid can flow safely.
Since October, the Canadian Armed Forces have been there to assist Canadians in the region. Our military has evacuated over 1,600 Canadians, permanent residents, and immediate family members on nineteen military flights from Tel Aviv, and 367 Canadians have now left Gaza.
Should the regional situation escalate, and should we need to evacuate Canadians from Lebanon, we are ready.
Hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces personnel are currently deployed to the region, and a Task Force Headquarters has been set up in Cyprus.
However, we urge Canadians to leave Lebanon while commercial options are available.
Canada will continue to support a two-state solution, so that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in lasting peace.
2. Europe
In Ukraine, members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to fight for Ukraine's freedom, in the face of Russia's illegal and unprovoked war of choice.
Ukraine did not ask for this war. Ukraine did not provoke this war. But Ukraine must win this war.
To strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield, Canada has committed over 2.4 billion dollars in military aid to Ukraine—everything from tanks and armoured vehicles, to howitzers and ammunition.
Since 2015 we've trained nearly 40,000 members of Ukraine's military through Operation UNIFIER. In September, I visited our troops who are training Ukrainian recruits in the United Kingdom and saw how Canadians are providing Ukrainians with the military skills that they need to fight and win.
We welcome the significant military support that many of your countries are providing to Ukraine as well.
In addition to military assistance, we're helping Ukraine to protect its systems from hostile cyber activity. Canada regularly shares intelligence with Ukraine, including information about cyber threats.
As many in this room know all too well, the cyber domain has become a key battleground in this conflict, and we're making critical contributions to Ukraine's success.
Ukraine is making progress - but it requires us to work together and our continued support.
As NATO's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg has said,
"We are all paying a price for Russia's war against Ukraine. But the price we pay is in money. While the price Ukrainians pay is in blood.
And if we let Putin win, all of us will pay a much higher price, for many years to come."
We must - and will - stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
As a founding member of NATO, our commitment to collective defence has been - and will always be - unwavering.
Canada is more than doubling its military presence on the Alliance's eastern flank, with up to 2200 troops to be persistently deployed on Operation REASSURANCE.
As many of you are aware, Canada also shares vital cyber data with NATO Allies, including with Latvia, where we've deployed military and civilian personnel to help protect critical networks.
And, we know that we must do more.
Even though we are across the Atlantic, we are under no illusions: Europe's security is our security too. And given the threats we currently face, we believe that NATO is more important than ever.
3. Indo-Pacific
And we have a lot of work to do in the Indo-Pacific.
As a Pacific nation itself, Canada has a deep interest in maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
We know that we must move from an episodic presence in the region, to a reliable and persistent presence.
That's exactly why we're deploying more ships, aircraft, and personnel to the region.
In 2023, for the first time in decades, Canada deployed three warships to the region. They conducted exercises with our allies and partners, including the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
I'm proud to say that this additional warship came from right here in Halifax.
And, whether we are monitoring UN sanctions against North Korea, or sailing through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait, partnerships matter.
As we operate in the Indo-Pacific, Canada will always respect international rules, and engage responsibly. We expect others to do the same.
Unfortunately, in the past few weeks alone, we have seen unsafe aerial intercepts conducted by the People's Republic of China.
On October 16, a Canadian maritime patrol aircraft monitoring United Nations sanctions against North Korea was unsafely intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet, which came within five metres of our aircraft.
And on October 29, a Canadian maritime helicopter had two unsafe encounters with Chinese aircraft, one of which launched flares directly in front of our helicopter.
These actions put everyone involved at unnecessary risk.
Canada has raised its concerns regarding this behaviour in the past, and we will continue to do so when necessary.
Our Indo-Pacific Strategy is clear: China increasingly disregards international rules and norms. So, Canada will challenge China when we ought to. And we will cooperate with China when we must, to find solutions to global issues.
Canada has been clear in its commitment to our partners in the region. For example, Canada is contributing to stability on the Korean Peninsula. Since the Korean War, the Canadian Armed Forces have continuously served in Korea through the United Nations Command, to promote peace on the Peninsula.
And today, I'm pleased to announce that the Canadian Armed Forces' very own Lieutenant-General Derek Macaulay has been named as the next Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command in the Republic of Korea. He will officially begin his duties shortly.
In short, we believe that the Indo-Pacific is central to our own country's security and prosperity.
And we'll continue to work with like-minded partners and allies to build freedom, openness, and stability in the region.
4. Bolstering our defences here at home
Here at home, our Arctic sovereignty is being increasingly challenged by Russia and China
Just nine months ago, NORAD played a key role when a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon violated the sovereignty of Canada and the United States - reminding us of NORAD's centrality to the security of our peoples.
As President Biden said when he visited Canada this year, NORAD "is an incredible symbol of the faith we have in one another and the trust we place in each other's capabilities."
To the United States Congressional Delegation joining us today, let me say clearly:
We deeply value the unparalleled defence relationship between Canada and the United States - including and especially through NORAD.
Canada is making generational investment to modernize our NORAD capabilities, by investing $38.6 billion over the next two decades.
Earlier this year, we released information on all 19 projects that will proceed under this plan.
We're starting to see these investments take shape:
We will be developing a new Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar System with improved threat detection in the North.
At the beginning of 2023, our government announced the acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets - an investment of 19 billion dollars.
And we're closely engaged with Arctic partners to upgrade our infrastructure so that it can host state-of-the-art fighter jets.
To modernize the Canadian Armed Forces, we're also continuing to implement our 2017 defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, which increases our defence spending by over seventy percent.
But we know that we need to do more, because the world has changed since 2017.
That's why we are moving forward with a Defence Policy Update.
We've been engaging with Canadians, industry and you, our allies and partners to make sure that we get this right. And we look forward to releasing the Update in the coming months.
We're focused on capabilities that bring value to Canadians, and to our key Alliances.
For example - we know that long-range precision strike capabilities are essential to NATO.
We know that underwater surveillance capabilities, and Arctic defence infrastructure, matter to NORAD.
And we know that tactical aviation capabilities are essential in responding to emergencies here at home.
In recent weeks, I've met with the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, and other industry partners to discuss the DPU.
I have heard your feedback, and I know that we need to provide you with the clarity and certainty that you need to help us.
Although we are already investing in major new military capabilities in all domains - additional investments are needed.
We know that we need resources to put behind our aspirations.
As we do all of this, our people remain our number one priority. And that's exactly why we are implementing Madame Louise Arbour's recommendations to effect meaningful culture change in our military.
As Canada's Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security Jaqueline O'Neill said while receiving the Vimy Award last week,
"Diverse groups make better decisions, and when women participate, outcomes are better. True operational effectiveness occurs when we reduce blind spots in situational awareness."
On that note, please join me in welcoming this year's Peace with Women Fellows, who as in previous years, will take part in this weekend's discussions.
I also extend a warm welcome to Irene Fellin, Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for Women, Peace and Security.
5. Investing here in Halifax
Finally, let me say a few words about our fantastic host city: Halifax.
To all Haligonians: This city - your city - is at the heart of the defence of Canada.
Just over a week ago, two Canadian ships returned to their home port here in Halifax after a months-long deployment with NATO in European waters.
This morning, I visited shipbuilders at Irving's Halifax Shipyard - just a few kilometres from where we're gathered now.
Halifax shipbuilders have already built and delivered four new Arctic and Offshore Patrol ships to the Navy - and two more are under construction.
They'll soon begin construction on the first of fifteen new warships for the Royal Canadian Navy, through the Canadian Surface Combatant project - the largest shipbuilding initiative in Canada since World War Two.
This project is expected to create or maintain ten thousand jobs over 25 years, and it will provide our Navy with modern, state-of-the-art ships built right here in Canada.
CFB Halifax Announcement
Right next to the Irving Shipyard, thousands of civilians and military personnel go to work every day at Canadian Forces Base Halifax - the home of our Atlantic fleet, and Canada's largest military base. But it needs new facilities, to meet the growing demands on our personnel.
Today, I'm pleased to announce that we are moving forward to build a brand-new 188-million-dollar training centre at CFB Halifax.
The Centre will provide Canadian Armed Forces members with expertise in above-water, underwater, and maritime air warfighting, so that they are ready to sail on our incoming fleet of 15 Canadian Surface Combatant warships.
We have awarded the EllisDon Corporation of Halifax a contract worth 7.85 million dollars to design this facility, which we expect to be completed in 2029.
This is good news for our Navy members, who will have the chance to train on state-of-the-art equipment as we await the arrival of these new warships.
And it's good news for this community, since we expect this project to support almost 650 jobs during construction.
NATO DIANA Announcement
Halifax is also home to an impressive defence research and innovation network.
The region is home to Defence Research and Development Canada's Atlantic facility, which provides world-class expertise in areas like underwater acoustic research.
It's home to several universities, and COVE - a centre of marine technology innovation.
And, as we announced last year, Halifax will soon be home to NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic - or, DIANA.
Today, I'm announcing an initial investment of 26.6 million dollars over six years to enable the opening and operations of DIANA's North American regional office here in Halifax.
This investment will allow DIANA to open in Halifax by Summer 2024.
DIANA will provide funding to innovators to develop dual-use technologies that have both civilian and military uses.
It will focus on projects in quantum, artificial intelligence, space, and more, that will strengthen the defence of the NATO Alliance.
This spring, DIANA launched its first-ever competitive call for proposals. And across the Alliance, Canada had the second-highest number of application submissions at 211, just a few behind the United States, which had 215.
We know that bolstering Canadian innovation makes our investing in our Defence Industrial Base even more attractive to other countries.
As the nature of conflict changes, we need to innovate and adapt across all domains—sea, land, air, cyber, space, as well as in "game-changers" like A.I. and quantum.
That's exactly what DIANA will do, right here in Halifax. And on that note, let me thank Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, for his advocacy to bring DIANA right here to this city.
It's impossible to imagine the Canadian Armed Forces without the contributions of Haligonians.
So, we'll continue to make major investments right here in Halifax - to create good jobs, and to keep Canadians safe in a changing world.
Conclusion
To everyone joining us here in Halifax,
We've got work to do. At times like this, conferences like this one matter.
Threats to international stability are on the rise - and in the face of those threats, we've got to work together. We must learn from one another and share experiences.
- In the Middle East,
- in Europe,
- in the Indo-Pacific,
- here in North America,
- and around the globe,
We must step up to address these challenges, and to preserve peace and prosperity for our peoples.
Together, I'm confident that we can build a safer world.
We can stand up to those trying to sow chaos and division.
We can ensure that our militaries are ready to face the threats of tomorrow.
And ultimately, we can protect and strengthen the rules-based international order that keeps us all safe.
So we have a lot of work to do.
With that, delegates of the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum,
It is my privilege, as your host, to officially hand you the floor.
Let's get to work.
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