The Honourable David Collenette speaking on Canadian defence policy

The Defence Studies Committee organizes a series of Roundtable or more smaller, more specialist-oriented Research Roundtable discussions. These talks feature expert speakers who present on topics related to the Committee's research agenda, specifically on "Contemporary Canadian Security Studies." After the initial presentation, there is a discussion of the points and issues highlighted in the presentation, which is then followed by an informal and optional luncheon.

In 2005, the Institute was involved in sponsoring and/or organizing the following Roundtable discussions:

Canada's Evolving Role in Afghanistan, with BGen Walter Semianiw, James Fox (FAC) and Jamie Graves (CIDA) November, 2005

In cooperation with the Department of National Defence, we are very pleased to be able to offer this briefing on Canada's 3-D (Defence, Diplomacy, Development) efforts in Afghanistan. This briefing will provide an update to Canadians about the situation in Afghanistan today. For example, in addition to the recently deployed Canadian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team, the Canadian military presence will be further increased in early 2006 with the deployment of a brigade headquarters and an army task force to Kandahar. Other topics include civil-military cooperation and post-election issues.

RCMI Roundtable on the Canada Border Services Agency
May 2005

As the 9/11 attacks so clearly demonstrated, the threat posed by our uncon-ventional and asymmetrical adversaries requires, not only military force, but also the use of other security agencies, including intelligence, emergency responders, and the police. The Martin government has notignored the importance of these other "homeland security"agencies, as shown in the release of the National Security Policy and the creation of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. We were therefore very pleased that Mr. Reg Williams, Director of the Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre (GTEC) of the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA), was our guest speaker for this Roundtable.

RCMI Roundtable on Canadian Defence Policy
April 2005

With the government of Canada recently completed International Policy Review and Defence Policy Statement, it is no surprise that there has been so much speculation on the future development of Canadian defence policy. We are therefore very pleased that The Honourable David Collenette, Distinguished Fellow at Glendon College, York University, was our guest speaker for this Defence Studies Comittee Roundtable. Mr. Collenette is a former Minister of National Defence, and will offer his unique insights on the events leading up to the 1994 Defence White Paper, the budget cuts of the mid-1990s and the challenge today in rebuilding the Canadian Forces.

RCMI Joint Roundtable on Defence Policy Statement
April 2005

The Defence Policy Statement (DPS) puts in motion the most significant changes to Canada's military in 15 years. Building upon the principles and priorities identified in the overarching International Policy Statement and last year's National Security Policy, and following a significant commitment announced in Budget 2005, the DPS sets out a bold new vision for the Canadian Forces. We are therefore very pleased that, in close cooperation with the Empire Club of Canada, The Honourable Bill Graham was our guest for this special Roundtable. In his first major speech since the DPS launch, Mr. Graham, Minister of National Defence, shared his thoughts on the transformation of the Canadian Forces to better respond to emerging threats to Canada and North America and also to enhance our role on the world stage.

RCMI Joint Roundtable on the United Nations
April 2005

September 2005 will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The anniversary will give rise to a meeting in New York of the world's heads of state and government, who will be asked to adopt a set of measures crucial to the revitalization of the UN. To provide insight into this issue, we are very fortunate to have Mr. Ferry de Kerckhove as our speaker for this Joint Roundtable, in cooperation with Foreign Affairs Canada and the Atlantic Council of Canada. Mr. de Kerckhove is Director General of the International Organizations Bureau in Foreign Affairs Canada, and will be speaking on "UN Reform: Mission Impossible?"

RCMI Joint Roundtable on Ukraine and the EU
April 2005

In late 2004, Ukraine experienced what became known as the 'Orange Revolution,' a populist uprising against the nation's corrupt, authoritarian and pro-Russian government.The long-term impact of this revolution remains to be seen. We are therefore very please that one of the foremost experts on Ukraine within the EU, Mr. Alexander Duleba, was our guest speaker for this Joint Roundtable, in partnership with the Embassy of Slovakia in Ottawa, and with the support of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and the Atlantic Council of Canada.

Research Roundtable on the Future of the Reserves
March 2005

The upcoming International Policy Review and Defence Policy Statement will soon be released. However, little attention has been paid to what impact this Review will have on the Canadian Reserves and Militia. We are very pleased that Mr. Dave MacKenzie was our guest for this Research Roundtable. Mr. MacKenzie is the Conservative Critic for the Associate Minister of Defence, and will be speaking on the topic of "Conservative Defence Policy with Special Regard to the Reserves."

RCMI / Atlantic Council of Canada Joint Roundtable on the EU and NATO
March 2005

The North Atlantic Treaty Association (NATO) occupies a central position in Canada's foreign and defence policy. It is unfortunate, however, that little attention has been paid to the emerging European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), of the European Union. We were therefore very fortunate to have Dr. Julian Lindley-French, Director at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in Switzerland, speak to us on "The Developing EU Military Structure and Its Relationship to NATO."

In 2004, the Institute was involved in sponsoring and/or organizing the following Roundtable discussion: Joint Roundtable on Canadian Forces and ISAF October 2004

The Canadian contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has been one of this country’s most significant military deployments since Bosnia. In conjunction with the Atlantic Council of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, the RCMI co-sponsored a Joint Roundtable on this subject, with Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier - Chief of the Land Staff and former commander of ISAF - as the speaker.

Roundtable on “Terrorism: A Global Reality – Its Effects on South Asia” June 2004

With the deployment of troops to Afghanistan, Canadian attention has increasingly focused on the South Asian region, and its continuing problem with international terrorism. To shed some light on this issue, this roundtable featured Mr. Ghalib Iqbal, the Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Roundtable on India’s Strategic Policy following the General Elections May 2004

In 2004, an election was held in India that led to the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had governed the country through some tumultuous period, including the country’s 1998 nuclear tests, the Kargil War and the 2002-2003 India-Pakistan military mobilization and brinkmanship. In this roundtable, we were very fortunate to have Mr. Divyabj Manchanda, the Consul-General of India, offer his thoughts on Indian strategic policy following this important election.

Roundtable on Canadian Operations in Afghanistan April 2004

The phenomena of “failed states” requires the development of strategies and modalities of “human security interventions” to protect the citizens of those unhappy countries. Such interventions must include, not only military force, but issues of reconstruction, development, and governance. Afghanistan is a possible example of such an intervention, where Canadian forces have been deployed in a NATO-led operation to prevent the relapse of Afghanistan into a failed state and a safe haven for terrorists. To assess this issue, Major-General Andrew Leslie, the Assistant Chief of the Land Staff and former Commander of the Canadian Contingent in Afghanistan was the speaker at this roundtable.

Briefing on CF Transformation and the role of the Reserves February 2004

This briefing was provided by officials of the offices of the Director General of Strategic Planning, and the Chief of the Land Staff of the Canadian Force on CF Transformation and the potential role of Reserves in that process.

Mr. Jean Fournet speaking at a Roundtable

In 2003, the Institute was involved in sponsoring and/or organizing the following Roundtable discussions:

Research Roundtable on the Aftermath of the UK Intervention in Sierra Leone December 2003

The United Kingdom intervention in Sierra Leone was unusual on many counts. Not only was it a Western country (and former colonial power) intervening in a bloody African civil war, but it was an intervention that was largely deemed, in retrospect, successful. In 2002, the country had finally emerged from 11 years of civil war, and towards some form of democratic transition. To examine the aftermath of this intervention, this research roundtable featured Dr. Brian Hilton, of the United Kingdom Royal Military College of Science.

Joint Research Roundtable on Contemporary NATO Issues November 2003

To meet the security challenges of the 21st century, NATO is currently undergoing a process of military transformation, in an attempt to find a new balance between its core mission of collective defence, and the new threat posed by terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. This research roundtable, co-sponsored by the Atlantic Council of Canada, featured BGen Bernd Goetze, the Executive Secretary of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's supreme decision making body, who provided an overview of the many Summits and meetings which have shaped NATO transformation.

Joint Research Roundtable on Contemporary NATO Issues November 2003

To meet the security challenges of the 21st century, NATO is currently undergoing a process of military transformation, in an attempt to find a new balance between its core mission of collective defence, and the new threat posed by terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. This research roundtable, co-sponsored by the Atlantic Council of Canada, featured BGen Bernd Goetze, the Executive Secretary of the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s supreme decision making body, who provided an overview of the many Summits and meetings which have shaped NATO transformation

Research Roundtable on Canadian Naval Force Structure Concepts November 2003

This research roundtable with Maritime Command (MARCOM) planners on Canadian naval strategic/force structure concepts, as they relate to the conventional submarine project.

Joint Roundtable on NATO, Canada, and ISAF October 2003

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force for Afghanistan is a critical factor, not only for the success of Canada’s “defence, diplomacy and development” or “3-D” approach, but also for the viability of the NATO Alliance in the post-Cold War period. It is a test-case for both Canada's 3-D approach and NATO's new role. To assess this operation, this roundtable, with the Atlantic Council of Canada, featured M. Jean Fournet, the Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy, who focused on the importance of the Afghanistan operation in NATO’s ongoing transformation process.