On Friday 8 December, our Executive Director, Colonel David Burke (Ret’d), represented the CMEA at a Conference of Defence Associations Zoom Council Meeting. The meeting was chaired by LGen (Ret’d) Guy Thibault. There were in total 19 attendees from the CDA and member associations.
One of the key points made in the Chair’s opening remarks was that the CDA is strong and has increased its programming and hence the size of its staff. There are now 13 employees in the office. Moreover, eight related associations have sought to join the CDA as Associate Members.
The CDA Executive Director, Youri Cormier, provided a detailed update on the current activities of the CDA. The CDA has run a series of Force Development seminars the first two of which were very successful. The first was on submarines and the second was on Digitisation in the CAF. The seminars were day-long events with professionals in the subject, academics, DND and PWGSC representatives, and Members of Parliament participating.
As part of the CDA’s mandate of Advocacy, it has increased its outreach to a diverse range of communities and their community leaders. An event recently in Toronto will be used as a template for future events.
The CDA will be seeking nominations for the Ross Munro Award. Members of the selection committee are being sought from CDA Member Associations. The presentation of the award will be made in March just before the start of the Ottawa Conference.
The CDA has increased its student engagement efforts and is offering mentorship as well as paid internships to interested students.
Parliamentary engagement has also increased. A CDA Defence and Security Caucus is being established with representatives from MPs who are interested in defence and security issues. The objective is to both educate and engage the MPs on matters the CDA feels are important. This is another activity related to the Advocacy objectives of the CDA.
The Ottawa Conference will be held on 7 and 8 March 2024. It will be preceded by the CDA AGM and the presentation of the Ross Munro Award on 6 March. There has been very positive uptake by the Ministers of National Defence and Emergency Preparedness as well as the senior leadership of the CAF. The CDA will produce a Strategic Outlook publication to be issued at the Ottawa Conference. The authors will be Ferry de Kerckhove and George Petrolekas. The last Strategic Outlook produced was ranked very high among publications by Security and Defence Think Tanks internationally. As usual, there will be one free ticket for the Ottawa Conference available as well as 50% rebate for up to ten tickets for each regular member association, which includes the CMEA.
The CDA is planning an Army Day on the Hill. This is planned for 10 June 2024 to reinforce the Parliamentary engagement activities. It will follow the general model of the RCAF and RCN Days on the Hill. The day-long event will include breakfast, lunch, and a reception. The CDA will be seeking volunteers from the member associations.
A positive sign of the value of the CDA is that eight defence-related associations have sought to become Associate Member Associations of the CDA. The meeting approved the eight new associate members. They are:
- Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies
- Canadian Forces Liaison Council
- Concussion Legacy
- Last Post Fund
- St John’s Ambulance
- Together We Stand
- Treble Victor
- Wounded Warrior Canada
The CDA requested that the Membership Model presented at the CDA AGM in March be formally accepted. It was accepted by the meeting.
The meeting concluded with round table items during which Colonel Burke advised the meeting of the recent very successful CMEA NGM.
Attached is a copy of the Agenda and Membership Model. The CMEA has copies of the eight Associate Membership applications that will be provided on request.