Samuel Associates Invited to Appear Before Parliament on Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

Samuel Associates is honoured to announce that its President and CEO, Goran Samuel Pesic, has been invited by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) to appear as a witness in the Committee’s study on the development of a Canadian Defence Industrial Strategy.

The Committee’s study, launched under Standing Order 108(2), reflects Parliament’s growing recognition of the strategic importance of defence industrial self-reliance to Canada’s national security, innovation ecosystem, and long-term economic resilience. The motion establishing the study highlights the need to “use a defence industrial strategy to regenerate and further develop sovereign capabilities of Canada’s industrial ecosystem and procurement opportunities for Canadian businesses.”

Strengthening Canada’s Sovereign Capabilities

‍In recent years, Canada’s defence and industrial base has faced increasing pressure to adapt to evolving geopolitical realities, emerging technologies, and the imperative of allied interoperability. The Standing Committee’s initiative aims to explore how Canada can strengthen its sovereign capabilities across a range of strategic sectors — including aerospace, cyber security, vehicle and arms manufacturing, heavy industry, advanced materials, digital technologies, and the bioeconomy.

As part of this process, the Committee will hear from senior government representatives, including Ministers and officials from the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), as well as leading voices from industry and the private sector.

‍Samuel Associates’ Contribution

‍Appearing on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. (ET), Goran Samuel Pesic will represent Samuel Associates before the Committee to share the firm’s perspectives on how Canada can better align its industrial base with long-term defence, economic, and innovation objectives.

“Canada’s national security is inseparable from the health and competitiveness of its industrial base,” said Pesic. “A forward-looking Defence Industrial Strategy must empower Canadian firms—large and small—to compete globally, innovate continuously, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s collective security.”

Samuel Associates has long advocated for greater alignment between Canada’s industrial, defence, and innovation policies, emphasizing the role of private enterprise, research partnerships, and strategic public investments in building a resilient national ecosystem.

‍About Samuel Associates

‍Samuel Associates is a Canadian strategic advisory and government relations consulting firm specializing in defence, aerospace, and national security. Headquartered in Ottawa with operations in Washington, D.C., and Brussels the firm advises clients across Canada, the United States, and allied markets on public policy, industrial engagement, and international market access.

To learn more about Samuel Associates’ work in supporting Canada’s defence and industrial innovation sectors, visit www.samuel.associates.