Keynote Introduction

Christyn Cianfarani

May 27th, EY Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

Check Against Delivery

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MESDAMES ET MONSIEURS, I HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND THE FIRST MORNING OF CANSEC 2015 TO HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE AND THAT YOU’VE BEEN “GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS”. OUR THANKS TO IHS FOR ITS SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT OF THE PRE-LUNCHEON RECEPTION.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AS THEY ONCE AGAIN DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IN EVOLVING THREAT ENVIRONMENTS. AS I MENTIONED AT THIS MORNING’S OPENING, WE’VE CHOSEN THE PIPES OF THE CAMERON HIGHLANDERS TO ACCOMPANY OUR GUEST’S ARRIVAL IN HONOUR OF THE RETIRED VETERANS AND SERVING MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE. THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY IS PROUD TO PROVIDE PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND TOOLS THAT ARE THE ENABLERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.

CHEZ CADSI, NOUS CROYONS ÉGALEMENT QU’UNE BASE INDUSTRIELLE DE DÉFENSE CANADIENNE SOLIDE EST NON SEULEMENT IMPORTANTE POUR LA SÉCURITÉ NATIONALE DU CANADA, MAIS PROFITE ÉGALEMENT À NOTRE ÉCONOMIE, PARTICULIÈREMENT EN PÉRIODE OÙ LA PLUS GRANDE PRÉOCCUPATION DES CANADIENS EST NON SEULEMENT D’AVOIR UN EMPLOI, MAIS D’AVOIR UN EMPLOI BIEN RÉMUNÉRÉ.

MY FATHER CAME TO CANADA WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD FROM ITALY AND HE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY YOUTH REMINDING ME THAT I WAS BORN IN A GREAT COUNTRY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY YOUNGER SELF YEARS AGO, TO HAVE BEEN MAKING A GOOD WAGE AND ALSO ABLE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN JUST MY COMPANY – BY PROVIDING THE BEST KIT TO PEOPLE WHO ENTER INTO HARM’S WAY ON MY BEHALF – THAT MADE (AND STILL MAKES) ME FEEL PROUD AND GIVES ME PURPOSE AS A CANADIAN.

WHAT THIS TRANSLATES INTO IS THAT CANADIAN INDUSTRY CAN AND SHOULD BE MOBILIZED TO PLAY A ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT’S DEFENCE AND SECURITY AGENDA IN A MOST STRATEGIC WAY. WE BELIEVE IT’S PART OF OUR PURPOSE. TO USE AN EXAMPLE, THE ARCTIC IS AN ISSUE THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN PERSONALLY SEIZED WITH FOR YEARS.

IL A SENSIBILISÉ LA POPULATION CANADIENNE AU FAIT QUE CE PAYS A LA RESPONSABILITÉ UNIQUE ET PARTICULIÈRE DE RELEVER LES NOUVEAUX DÉFIS FACE À LA SOUVERAINETÉ CANADIENNE DANS LE GRAND NORD, À LA LUMIÈRE DES RÉALITÉS DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET ENVIRONNEMENTALES QUI RENDENT L’ARTIQUE UNE ZONE À LA FOIS PLUS ACCESSIBLE ET PLUS ATTRAYANTE AUX AUTRES PAYS QUE PAR LE PASSÉ.

ENABLING THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES WITH MARITIME AND ARCTIC CAPABILITY THAT SERVES THE GREATER PURPOSE OF CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY IN THE FAR NORTH, IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW DEFENCE PROCUREMENT AND BY EXTENSION THE GOVERNMENT’S DEFENCE PROCUREMENT STRATEGY CANNOT BE SEEN EXCLUSIVELY AS ECONOMIC POLICY. IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS SUPPORTING BROADER DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES. TOGETHER, BY POOLING OUR RESOURCES, WE CAN TAKE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD. THE CANADIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY STANDS READY TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR ARMED FORCES IN MEETING THESE OBJECTIVES.

CES QUESTIONS STRATÉGIQUES LIÉES À LA SOUVERAINETÉ CANADIENNE, DE MÊME QU’À LA SÉCURITÉ NATIONALE ET À LA PROSPÉRITÉ, SONT SANS AUCUN DOUTE LE GENRE DE DÉFIS AUXQUELS NOTRE PROCHAIN ORATEUR A ÉTÉ CONFRONTÉ DEPUIS QU’IL A ÉTÉ NOMMÉ MINISTRE DE LA DÉFENSE NATIONALE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MINISTER KENNEY’S UPCOMING REMARKS.

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