Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
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P ProcureMeNt Louise Mercier is a senior defence procurement associate with Hill & Knowlton. uNaNSWeReD QueStioNS aBout tHe caNaDiaN SuRFace comBataNt t strengths and delivered a report at the request of Industry In July,he Canadian Surface CombatantDefence and Security of the Canadian Association of (CSC) is a key project Industries (CADSI) current challenges the RCN and Public Works and Government Services program. Though Canada was among the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) Minister Christian Paradis on the government's industrial and regional benefits (IRB)Canada (PWGSC) face in their quest forthe and is intended to provide Canada with modern the defencenew ships in a changing procurement environment. 2009, the policy first countries to adopt an offsets program, many in replaceindustry believe that, despite changes made in Importantly, the event was attended by the leadership of each ments for the Royal Canadian other nations. is no longer competitive withNavy's existing fleet of destroyers and frigates. CSC is currently at the earliest stages of project defi- broad sections. First, itcredit is due to thecall for an industrial The report contains 17 recommendations, divided into three key department. Some renews CADSI's leadership of Minister nition. By 2016, the RCN anticipates working toward finalizing strategy that not only serves the government's primary purposeRona Ambrose, who has repeatedly indicated her desire for enof equipping the Canadian Forces but also maximizes jobs, gaging industry at ers earliest stages of complex procurements the design and economic activity first of 15 vessels by defence spending. It then offthe suggestions to improve measures innovationof CSC and delivering its for Canada through2022. such to consider during the day, changes that would result So it was to some anticipation and enthusiasm invites the governmentas CSC. And administrative Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, introducedwiththe program in 2009. Finally, it that 300 induscommander try more flexible, government driven approach to program in aparticipants and less processprincipals met in Ottawa in midmanagement. of the RCN, Tom Ring, assistant deputy minister of PWGSC, and Dan Ross, assistant deputy minister, Materiel, Novemberpresident, tim Page, and engagement for of government relations, Janet thorsteinson, spoke recently withfor CADSI for the first formal industrial vice-president the CSC National program, to review critical components and seek of their input. Vanguard about the reasoning behind some industry recommendations. Defence, spoke in succession of the need for a collaboraConsidered by many to be a success, the workshop provided an information baseline and a view into the level of cooperation between the various departments. The day exposed both the 34 DeCeMBer 2012/JanUarY 2013 www.vanguardcanada.com tive relationship, strong processes, and transparent competition. This initial industry engagement was one of two parts of PWGSC's early engagement plan. The event was also twinned with a