A New Era for Canadian Defence: Building Boldly, Together
Back in early Spring, I wrote about the U.S. CLOUD Act and Canada’s need to regain control over its data. I referred to this as a wake-up call and a reminder that sovereignty is not just about borders but also about where our information is stored and, most importantly, who has access to it.
What I didn't anticipate, given my research and understanding of what this might mean for Canada, was how quickly this discussion would evolve. In recent months, a noticeable shift has occurred, and Canada is finally ready to transition from conversation to action. It is, admittedly, very exciting to finally see.
Ottawa’s Collaborative Energy Is Palpable
At GCXpo 2025, which I attended a few weeks ago, the atmosphere was different. The panels weren’t focused only on diagnosing Canada’s challenges but on sharing answers to long-standing frustrations and demonstrating a collective eagerness to solve them.
Leaders from defence, academia, and tech spoke candidly about how Canada must act more quickly, streamline processes, and ensure that smaller, agile firms are part of the conversation. From the closing panel at the Expo, Dan Doran (ADGA Group) summed it up perfectly:
“We built a railway from coast to coast in Canada in just four years during the 1800s. Yet here we are in 2025, entering our tenth year of LRT development, which, once completed, will only run from the west end to the east end of Ottawa. The problem isn’t talent, it’s process.”
That sentiment echoed across the expo and through the conversations that have since followed, a recognition that the capacity to innovate is here. What needs fixing is the system that slows it down.
On that same panel, Ann Fitz-Gerald (Balsillie School of International Affairs) warned that “every delay in decision-making is an opening for foreign adversaries who move faster and with deeper pockets.” Her words felt like both an observation and a call to action. Lagging on procurement or implementation isn’t neutral; it’s a vulnerability.
But what struck me most wasn’t just the urgency; it was the new level of optimism. The energy and confidence were also palpable throughout the event, and our region’s tech community now feels more coordinated than I’ve seen before. The silos between government, startups, and established firms are finally starting to blur, replaced by partnerships built on trust, speed, and shared purpose.
Coming across LinkedIn posts, like one by Reba Molotsi, Business Development Strategist at Defence & Security, Invest Ottawa, perfectly captured the tone of the event. She mentioned seeing a patch on a vest that read “hard to kill,” which reminded her of the resilience that defines so many Canadian SMEs in the defence sector. Her takeaway from the Tech for Defence Summit she attended was that “no one is standing still in uniform,” a line from Major Currie that I believe resonated with many of us.
The message was clear: Canada’s defence ecosystem is finally in motion.
Her reflections described really well how candid conversations on readiness, economic sovereignty, and collaboration were echoed in Michael Smith’s words, “we don’t need government to solve problems; we need them to catalyze behaviours.” I agree that this single insight captures the new tone taking shape across Ottawa.
From ONE9's new defence accelerator within its Capacity Labs, to 123 Cyber Inc. and ThinkOn's sovereign cloud platform navigating #CMMC and #CPCSC requirements, to Area X.O.’s agile #UAS showcase, the examples she highlighted illustrated how momentum is aggressively building in the Nation's Capital.
A New Spirit of Momentum
Mark Carney’s announcement of the establishment of the DIA, which is intended to modernize procurement, expedite decision-making, and treat defence spending as an investment in Canada’s future industries, has reignited the idea that the country’s strategic vision may finally align with its potential. Philippe Lagassé (The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs) noted that success will depend not only on structure but on inclusion.
“Execution will matter. Ensuring smaller firms, startups, and deep-talent agencies can contribute alongside the primes.”
His observation meshed with the overall sentiment that meaningful progress happens when we widen the circle, and when innovation from smaller firms also complements national objectives. This past week, The Line published an article by Major-General (Ret.) David Fraser, Dispatch from the Front Lines, where he wrote:
“Canada must stop confusing sovereignty with dependency.”
It was a blunt but necessary statement, one that cuts to the heart of why the DIA really matters. For too long, we have relied on allies to define the boundaries of our independence. Carney’s own message in that same piece reinforced the pivot that’s finally happening.
“We must invest faster, bolder, and at home.”
Those words are more than a slogan; they are a roadmap. They also align perfectly with what was said at GCXpo, that if we empower local talent, reduce friction, and treat innovation as infrastructure, Canada WILL lead.
My father, who served 25 years as a Warrant Officer in the Air Force and another 20 with the Department of National Defence as a Manager in Acoustics, called me after reading my previous article. He had worked closely on procurement and SONAR systems until his late retirement.
In his classic Archie Bunker-style dry sarcasm, he said:
“This is the most positive and forward-thinking change I’ve seen in decades.” Then he paused and added, “Maybe now we can finally get those submarines we were desperate for back in the ’90s.”
Our conversation, though tongue-in-cheek, captured something real. For those who have seen decades of announcements and delays, this moment feels different. Less like rhetoric, more like renewal.
From Data Sovereignty to Defence Sovereignty
I believe that the CLOUD Act serves as a stark reminder that relying on foreign infrastructure can gradually erode national control, a concern that can no longer be overlooked. Enacted in 2018, the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act grants U.S. authorities the right to access data stored on American servers, even if that data belongs to Canadian companies. For years, this law was treated as a compliance footnote. However, today, during a period when global relationships are more polarized and Canada’s once-steadfast partnership with the U.S. has shown visible strain under the new administration, that reliance feels increasingly precarious. When any data stored in the U.S. (or on U.S.-owned cloud platforms) can be accessed at will by another government, it poses not just a privacy risk but a dangerously strategic one.
For Canada, this is a wake-up call. Our intellectual property, healthcare data, AI research, and defence-related innovations deserve protection under Canadian law and infrastructure. That is why seeing initiatives like the DISH RFI and the DIA is so essential. They mark the start of connecting digital sovereignty directly to defence sovereignty.
At Ollon, we see this transformation every day. Founders, innovators, and engineers across Canada are developing world-class solutions that deserve to stay here. When Canadian founders scale securely, they enable the development of the code, infrastructure, and partnerships that make sovereignty tangible and resilient.
Building Boldly, Together
The collaborative energy across Ottawa’s innovation corridor, along with a growing network of partners, gives me genuine hope. For the first time in years, there’s alignment between policy, purpose, and potential.
Maybe these “whispers of change” we’ve been hearing aren’t whispers anymore, but the first signals of a new national confidence. What we’re seeing now isn’t just about defence, it’s about defining a future where Canada’s technology, talent, and infrastructure are built here, protected here, and celebrated here.
And that, truly, is change worth believing in.
