Canada has entered a defining period for defence and security. A more contested geopolitical environment, renewed attention to the Arctic and growing investments in military modernization are reshaping expectations across government and industry.
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The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
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Canada has the expertise, partnerships and industrial capacity to strengthen its defence readiness. The priority now is execution.
John Edelman
Vice President, Defence, Canada
We spoke with John Edelman, Vice President, Defence, Canada, at AtkinsRéalis. Today, he leads the company's Defence business in Canada, helping clients navigate the complex intersection of sovereignty, readiness, infrastructure, technology and long-term capability development.
In this conversation, he shares his perspective on how Canada can translate growing defence ambition into operational readiness through sovereign capability, systems integration, maritime security, strategic partnerships and emerging technologies.
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About John Edelman
John Edelman is Vice President, Defence, Canada, at AtkinsRéalis. A former Canadian Armed Forces officer with more than three decades of military and defence experience, including 32 years of service, he has held leadership roles across operations, aviation and defence programs. He now leads AtkinsRéalis' Defence market in Canada, helping shape the company's long-term vision for defence modernization, sovereign capability and strategic growth across the Canadian market.
Q: How are Canada’s defence priorities evolving?
John Edelman: Canada is responding to a more complex and unpredictable world by reassessing its partnerships, strengthening its contribution to NATO and placing greater emphasis on sovereignty, particularly in the Arctic.
Canada cannot develop every defence capability independently. It must decide where to build sovereign capacity, collaborate with trusted allies or procure proven solutions, while retaining control of secure data, critical technologies, skilled people and essential assets.
The priority is coordinated delivery: invest where Canada has an advantage, partner where collaboration adds value and buy proven solutions where appropriate.
Q: What does defence readiness mean beyond increased spending?
John Edelman: Funding is essential, but readiness is measured by whether a capability is available and effective when needed, not simply by the equipment acquired.
That depends on an integrated ecosystem of trained personnel, secure infrastructure, engineering, maintenance, supply chains, data, cyber security and long-term support. The Canadian Armed Forces must remain focused on core operational responsibilities, while industry contributes specialized, security-cleared expertise in engineering, infrastructure, technology, supply chains and asset sustainment.
This requires government, the Canadian Armed Forces and industry to share information, manage risk and build capacity together.
Q: Why is systems integration essential to delivering capability faster and with lower risk?
John Edelman: Modern defence programs connect platforms, infrastructure, digital technologies, data, people, supply chains and operational requirements. When these interfaces are addressed too late, complexity, cost and risk increase.
Systems integration brings these elements together from the outset by clarifying requirements, aligning standards, identifying risks early and providing an integrated view of performance.
A systems integrator can coordinate suppliers, manage obsolescence, introduce technology and maintain configuration control, enabling more efficient delivery, upgrades and sustainment.
Building this expertise domestically also strengthens sovereignty. International partners remain vital to allied interoperability, but Canada must retain the knowledge to understand, integrate and support its critical defence systems.
Q: What role will maritime capability play in Canada’s future?
John Edelman: As a nation bordered by three oceans, Canada’s security, economic interests and sovereignty depend on its ability to understand, access and operate across its maritime environments.
Sovereignty is not simply a matter of geography. It requires presence. As Arctic routes become more accessible and global interest in northern resources increases, Canada must be able to monitor, access and operate across the region. That means investing not only in ships and submarines, but also in the infrastructure, energy systems, logistics and support capabilities that make sustained operations possible.
On all three coasts, fleet recapitalization, submarines, surface vessels, icebreakers, naval facilities and through-life support must be treated as an integrated capability serving sovereign and continental defence and allied interoperability.
Success also depends on modern bases, resilient infrastructure, skilled people, maintenance capacity, digital systems and secure supply chains. Integrated planning and proven global experience can reduce delivery risk while building lasting domestic capacity. AtkinsRéalis also brings experience from some of the United Kingdom's most complex defence and naval programs, creating opportunities to transfer proven technologies, approaches and lessons learned to address sovereign Canadian needs.
Q: How can Canada strengthen sovereign capability through partnerships, skills and domestic capacity?
John Edelman: Sovereignty does not mean doing everything alone. It means retaining the people, knowledge, data, infrastructure and industrial capacity to make informed decisions and sustain critical systems without unacceptable dependence.
Canada can combine domestic investment with trusted international partnerships, adapting global expertise to Canadian requirements while advancing knowledge transfer, local supply-chain participation and long-term skills development.
Indigenous partnerships are essential, especially in the North. Indigenous knowledge of the land, operating environment and local needs can improve outcomes while creating enduring economic and skills-development opportunities.
Canada has the capability, but scaling capacity will require deliberate action. Workforce shortages, security-clearance timelines and limited depth in specialized defence expertise remain challenges across the industry. Government and industry must work together to strengthen talent pipelines, build capacity ahead of demand and accelerate knowledge transfer through partnerships with trusted allies. Canada's opportunity is not only to expand its defence capabilities, but also to develop the skilled workforce needed to sustain them over the long term.
Q: Which technologies will most improve operational readiness and lifecycle performance?
John Edelman: Artificial intelligence can act as a force multiplier by improving engineering productivity, supply-chain visibility, systems integration, predictive maintenance and decision-making.
Its use must remain grounded in human judgement, technical assurance and accountability. The objective is not to replace people, but to equip skilled professionals to make faster, better decisions. Quantum computing will also reshape cyber security, encryption and high-performance analysis. Canada must prepare early to understand both its opportunities and security implications.
Innovation should always serve an operational outcome: greater availability, faster decisions, lower risk and stronger lifecycle performance.
Q: If you could summarize your vision for the future of Canadian defence in one phrase, what would it be?
John Edelman: Speed of relevance.
Canada must convert decisions into operational capability more quickly, not by sacrificing discipline, but by using the best available evidence, managing risk pragmatically and adapting as circumstances evolve.
Waiting for perfect certainty creates its own risk: capability may arrive too late to remain relevant. Government, the Canadian Armed Forces and industry must align around clear outcomes and act with greater urgency.
Canada has the expertise, partnerships and industrial potential to turn ambition into sustained capability, at the speed the security environment demands.
Throughout the discussion, one theme emerged consistently: defence readiness is not created through individual projects alone. It is built through long-term partnerships, integrated planning and the ability to connect infrastructure, technology, people and operations around shared outcomes.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
Turning ambition into readiness
Canada's defence modernization agenda represents one of the most significant capability-building efforts in generations. Success will depend on more than individual procurements. It will require integrated thinking across infrastructure, platforms, digital systems, supply chains, workforce development and long-term sustainment. As Canada advances Arctic and northern initiatives, military infrastructure renewal, naval recapitalization, continental defence priorities and future defence capabilities, the challenge will be turning investment into operational outcomes.
AtkinsRéalis is uniquely positioned to support that journey. As a Canadian-headquartered company with global defence expertise, we bring together infrastructure, engineering, systems integration, digital capabilities, project delivery and through-life support capabilities that are well-suited to support Canada's evolving defence priorities.
But perhaps more importantly, we are taking deliberate steps to strengthen our capabilities, deepen our expertise and build the partnerships needed to support the future of Canadian defence. Across AtkinsRéalis, we are bringing together expertise from Canada and allied markets to better support defence clients and national priorities.
This is more than a market opportunity. It is an opportunity to contribute to Canada's long-term readiness, sovereignty and resilience.
For John Edelman, the path forward is clear: Canada has the expertise, industrial capacity and partnerships needed to achieve its defence ambitions. The challenge now is execution. AtkinsRéalis is committed to being part of that journey, helping turn strategy into capability and ambition into outcomes.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
