# Quebec Facing Global Rearmament

> This full-day conference brings together experts and practitioners to address three interconnected questions: What role can Quebec industry play in this rearmament? Under what conditions will Quebec society support it? And how will the new Quebec government transform Quebec's relations with Canada, the United States, and Europe?

Source: https://ras-nsa.ca/en/event/quebec-facing-global-rearmament/
Modified: 2026-10-15

*This event will be held in French and recorded for later viewing*

Canada has embarked on its most significant rearmament since the end of the Cold War: a rapid increase in defence spending, its very first Defence Industrial Strategy, the creation of the Defence Investment Agency, closer ties with Europe, and a redefinition of its relationship with the United States. This turning point comes just as a new government, elected on October 5, 2026, takes office in Quebec.

This full-day conference brings together experts and practitioners to address three interconnected questions: What role can Quebec industry play in this rearmament? Under what conditions will Quebec society support it? And how will the new Quebec government transform Quebec's relations with Canada, the United States, and Europe?

**8:30 — Welcoming & registration**

*Registration and coffee*

**9:00 — Opening remarks**

[**Justin Massie**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/justin-massie/), Professor, Department of Political Science, UQAM; Director, Strategic AnalysisNetwork

**9:15 — Panel 1 — Quebec Industry Facing Canadian Rearmament**

**Presentation of the Study**

[**Justin Massie**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/justin-massie/), Professor, Department of Political Science, UQAM

[**Maya Bouton**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/maya-bouton/), emerging scholar, Master’s student in Political Science at UQAM and Sciences Po Grenoble

[**Walid Ferguen**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/walid-ferguen/), emerging scholar, Master’s student, Political Science at UQAM

**Moderator** : **TBA**

**10:45 — Break**

**11:00 — Panel 2 : The Social Acceptability of Canadian Rearmament**

[**Anessa Kimbal**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/anessa-kimball/), Professor, Department of Political Studies, Laval University

[**Stéphane Roussel**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/stephane-roussel/), Professor, École nationale d’Administration publique

**Moderator** : [**Justin Massie**](https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/justin-massie/), Professor, Department of Political Science, UQAM

**12:30 — Lunch**

**13:30 — Panel 3 : Quebec's New Government and International Relations for Quebec and Canada**

**Stéphane Paquin**, Professor, École nationale d’Administration publique

**Jean-François Payette**, Scientific Director, OPSA, École nationale d’Administration publique

**Daniel Beland**, Professor, McGill University

**David Morin**, Associate Professor, École de politique appliquée, University of Sherbrooke

**Moderator** : **TBA**

**15:00 — Break**

**15:15 — Informal Talk: Quebec in the World, Perspectives from Two Former Ministers of International Relations**

**16:15 — Closing remarks**

**16:30** **— Networking Cocktail**

Photo credit : [Christian Chomiak](https://unsplash.com/@christianchomiak?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText), [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/blue-and-white-flag-on-pole-under-white-clouds-and-blue-sky-during-daytime-iNB8kcBUjwA?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)