On September 25th, 2026, the NATO Association of Canada (NAOC) brought together representatives from government, industry, academia, and civil society to mark the launch of the Association’s Policy Paper on Canada’s National Resilience. Supported by TELUS as a Presenting Sponsor, Bombardier as a Platinum Sponsor, and CryptoMill Cybersecurity Solutions as a Silver Sponsor, the conference discussed the Policy Paper’s findings and their policy applications in the areas of critical infrastructure and environmental threats, cybersecurity and digital sovereignty, as well as education and civil preparedness
Through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and a fireside chat, the conference shed light on the responsibilities shared by governments, businesses, public institutions, and civil society in ensuring Canada’s holistic national resilience. The panel discussions and ministerial fireside chat were held under the Chatham House Rule.
In her opening remarks, Daria Synelnykova, Managing Editor of the policy paper and master of ceremonies for the day, reflected on how a country’s history and contemporary context can shape its sense of urgency about resilience. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought the need for preparedness into sharper focus for Ukrainians and across Europe. In Canada, where hard security threats have long felt distant, she welcomed the growing attention to resilience and the more recent steps taken, while still emphasizing the work ahead. She then introduced the opening keynote, which examined the investments, challenges, and opportunities shaping resilience in Canada’s North.
Opening Keynote Address
The opening keynote addressed Canada’s resilience in the North, acknowledging the Indigenous lands on which the conference was held and reflecting on the personal and historical dimensions of national service. The address connected Canada’s Northern sovereignty with the needs of the communities that live there.
The keynote emphasized that conversations about national security must consider human security. Housing, reliable food supplies, and local economic opportunity are essential to a stronger Canadian presence in the Arctic. Investments in military infrastructure should be accompanied by civilian infrastructure and meaningful participation of indigenous people in the resulting growth. Indigenous partnership remained central to the address. With the growing number of infrastructure projects in the North, regulatory processes must offer greater predictability while respecting consultation and ensuring that Indigenous voices shape decisions affecting their communities.
The address was closely related to Chapter 5 of the NATO Association of Canada’s policy paper, “Environmental and Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response.” The chapter calls for Arctic infrastructure planning that accounts for community needs, climate risks, and meaningful Indigenous participation.
Panel 1: Physical Infrastructure & Environmental Resilience
The first panel opened with introductory remarks from Sandra Buckler, Senior Director of External Affairs and Public Relations at Bombardier, the conference’s Platinum Sponsor. She emphasized the interdependence of energy, technology, and skilled labour, noting that disruptions in any of these areas could affect industrial operations and Canada’s broader resilience.
The panel examined whether Canada is implementing sufficient action to address its long-known infrastructure vulnerabilities. Flooding, wildfires, and aging assets place pressure on essential services, while disruptions in one sector quickly affect another. The speed of transportation, for example, depends on workers, energy, and connected supply networks; delays caused by natural disasters and other events interrupt trade and the delivery of critical goods.
The discussion revisited the 2009 National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure in light of threats and dependencies that had changed since its adoption. Participants considered how governments and private operators could better coordinate risk assessments and response plans. The discussion highlighted that companies are often reluctant to share information about their critical systems and vulnerabilities for fear of giving competitors an advantage, making it harder to identify risks and coordinate their responses on a system level.
Climate adaptation raised a related challenge. Research identifies where floods and other hazards will cause harm, but municipalities, provinces, and the federal government must still act on those findings. The panel discussed the value of preventive investment to avoid high disaster costs. Public preparedness is also part of this work: households and communities need practical information about disruptions they are likely to face and concrete knowledge and skill set to respond.
Overall, the discussion remained focused on what sustained investment and cooperation would mean in practice: essential services that continued to function when conditions deteriorated.
Panel 2: Cyber Resilience and Digital Sovereignty
The event’s second panel explored Canada’s ability to respond to evolving cybersecurity threats and retain meaningful control over its digital infrastructure.
As complete technological autonomy is effectively impossible in an increasingly interconnected world, the panel discussed the importance of distinguishing what assets should be shared and coordinated with allies. The speakers noted threat intelligence as one of the subsectors which should be kept sovereign. Panelists agreed the location of digital infrastructure, such as data centers, is not enough to ensure digital sovereignty, as ownership also matters. This was one of the key findings in the third chapter of the policy paper.
More broadly, the conversation highlighted the relationship of digital infrastructure to the wider economy. Alongside preventing disruptions, attention turned to the ability to detect incidents, quickly recover operations, and make strategic decisions about prioritization during disruptions. Sharing resources and combining purchasing power offer opportunities to strengthen the nation’s collective leverage and security, while joint exercises help private and public sectors test response plans and ensure preparedness. Here, the conversation echoed the policy paper’s recommendation for regular national cyber exercises, while the panel’s discussion of strategic dependencies reinforced its call to identify digital services that should remain under Canadian control.
Lastly, the panel considered how cyberattacks increasingly overlap with information operations. Artificial intelligence has lowered the cost and skill barrier required to conduct malicious campaigns, while also expanding the tools available to detect and counter them. Public education and accessible information about manipulation campaigns added another dimension to the conversation, as cyber resilience includes helping Canadians navigate an increasingly contested information environment.
Second Keynote Address
The keynote address opened with reflections on the policy paper’s release amid geopolitical uncertainty, technological change, and shifting trade relationships. The address emphasized the importance of anticipating disruption and strengthening infrastructure, supply chains, and digital capabilities that allow economies and communities to adapt before incidents occur.
The speech presented Ontario as possessing a unique combination of strengths for the changing global economy, including a strong financial sector, technology talent, clean electricity, critical minerals, and a robust manufacturing base. These assets can help finance new defence and industrial capabilities, supply the energy and materials they require, and manufacture equipment at scale for Canada and its allies.
The address highlighted public procurement as a way to realize this opportunity. Done strategically, it can support emerging firms, anchor domestic supply chains, and help scale production and expertise inside Canada. The address also stressed the importance of aligning procurement with economic and strategic priorities, hoping to see more defence equipment produced by Ontario workers using materials from Ontario.
Turning to digital transformation, the speech discussed AI’s potential to improve public services, while noting necessary safeguards to maintain public trust. Strong cybersecurity is essential to protecting business operations and services Ontarians rely on.
Panel 3: Education, Civil Preparedness and Youth Engagement
The third panel explored how education, public trust, and opportunities for civil participation can prepare Canadians for building and maintaining national resilience.
The discussion considered how skepticism toward government and established media can decrease civic participation and public readiness. Digital platforms offer young people ways to engage with public issues, but the rapid spread of mis- and disinformation creates major risks. The panel identified secondary schools as an important place to develop source evaluation, critical thinking, and an understanding of democratic institutions.
The Cadet program, volunteering, and community initiatives are also helpful in introducing young people to public service and emergency preparedness. The panel considered learning from approaches used in other NATO countries while recognizing that programs in Canada had to reflect domestic context. The discussion also highlighted the vital contributions of Northern residents to disaster preparedness and response, including the Canadian Rangers’ role in responding to local emergencies.
The conversation linked youth engagement to building a resilient workforce. Skilled trades supported the construction and maintenance of infrastructure, including assets used for defence and emergency response. Opportunities to develop practical skills early, supported by schools, employers, and community organizations, can give young people a more direct role in this work.
Lastly, the panel addressed national belonging and the importance of creating credible ways for young people to participate in public life. Organizations such as the NATO Association of Canada are forums where young people can meaningfully engage with security and policy issues and feel as part of broader Canadian community.
Fireside Chat on Emergency Preparedness
The fireside chat focused on preparedness and response across households, communities, and various levels of government. The conversation reaffirmed that preparedness should become a part of everyday life. At the household level, emergency plans and kits provide practical starting points. This should be supported by a clearer understanding of the infrastructure and services that communities can rely on. Education through schools and local organizations helps make preparedness more familiar and encourages people to take steps before emergencies occur.
The discussion also emphasized regular contact between municipalities, provinces, and federal partners, helping local leaders understand available resources and improving coordination during emergencies. Echoing discussions in the previous panels and in the policy paper itself, tabletop exercises, where groups work through emergency scenarios, were noted as a key way to reinforce local preparedness. The conversation highlighted the Ontario Corps as an example of strengthening preparedness through volunteerism. Bringing together civilians with varied skills, the provincial network trains volunteer to deliver local support during emergencies. Its growth and the interest it has attracted outside of Ontario illustrate how this approach could inform emergency preparedness across Canada.
The discussion reciprocated the policy paper’s calls to strengthen civilian emergency response and expand opportunities for young people to contribute to preparedness. School programs and community initiatives help people understand emergency risks, develop practical skills, and contribute through volunteering or careers in emergency response. Public trust remained central: households are better encouraged to prepare and strengthen their readiness when they are confident that governments and institutions are doing the same.
Closing Keynote Address
The event concluded with a keynote speech focused on the relationships between national resilience, democratic institutions, and public trust. The address broadened the discussion of resilience to include the institutions and principles upholding democracy and recognized the NATO Association of Canada’s longstanding effort to promote public understanding of security.
The speech highlighted interconnectedness between democratic institutions, public trust and broader resilience. In discussing the justice system, the importance of having institutions that can absorb disruption and adapt while continuing to uphold the rule of law is paramount.
The address underscored those immediate crises often prompt reforms with lasting benefits. For example, the shift toward virtual hearings and digital court processes allowed the justice system to continue operating during the pandemic. More broadly, the address emphasized the importance of questioning established processes and learning from the experiences of allies and partners. NATO’s continued adaptation over the past 77 years serves as an example of what sustained collective action and a willingness to evolve can achieve.
The address closed the conference’s discussions with an emphasis on cooperation and the need to consistently improve public institutions. Protecting resilience requires institutions that can adapt to changing circumstances, maintain public trust, and uphold the rule of law.
The NATO Association of Canada expresses its utmost gratitude to the conference’s presenting sponsor, TELUS; platinum sponsor, Bombardier; and silver sponsor, CryptoMill Cybersecurity Solutions, for their generous support in making this conference possible. The Association greatly values their meaningful contributions to facilitating informed dialogue on Canada’s national resilience.
Photo credit: Adriana Pérez Figuereo.
