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Alan Williams

Alan Williams is a former assistant deputy minister of materiel at DND. He is now President of The Williams Group providing expertise in the areas of policy, programs and procurement. He has authored two books, Reinventing Canadian Defence Procurement: A View From the Inside and Canada, Democracy and the F-35.

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | December 19, 2023
The federal government sets—the 'what' and leaves it up to industry to determine the 'how.' Industry can be nimble and creative. They have a lot to offer. All the government has to do is ask, writes Alan Williams, a former assistant deputy minister. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | December 19, 2023
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | December 19, 2023
The federal government sets—the 'what' and leaves it up to industry to determine the 'how.' Industry can be nimble and creative. They have a lot to offer. All the government has to do is ask, writes Alan Williams, a former assistant deputy minister. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 9, 2023
National Defence Minister Bill Blair, right, pictured on Sept. 28, 2023, with Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, before the House National Defence Committee on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 9, 2023
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 9, 2023
National Defence Minister Bill Blair, right, pictured on Sept. 28, 2023, with Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, before the House National Defence Committee on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 6, 2023
Defence Minister Anita Anand, pictured recently on the Hill. The responsibilities for defence procurement are shared between the ministers of national defence, and public services and procurement. Until one person is placed in charge of defence procurement, it will never be as efficient as it should be, writes Alan Williams. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 6, 2023
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 6, 2023
Defence Minister Anita Anand, pictured recently on the Hill. The responsibilities for defence procurement are shared between the ministers of national defence, and public services and procurement. Until one person is placed in charge of defence procurement, it will never be as efficient as it should be, writes Alan Williams. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 5, 2023
Dominic Barton, RioTinto board of directors chair, at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Feb. 1, 2023. Barton was called to testify about McKinsey & Company's consulting contracts with the federal government. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 5, 2023
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 5, 2023
Dominic Barton, RioTinto board of directors chair, at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Feb. 1, 2023. Barton was called to testify about McKinsey & Company's consulting contracts with the federal government. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 12, 2023
On Jan 9, Defence Minister Anita Anand, left, announced her department would spend $19-billion to acquire 88 F-35 fighter jets. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, right, should take the opportunity to hold the government to account, writes Alan Williams. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 12, 2023
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 12, 2023
On Jan 9, Defence Minister Anita Anand, left, announced her department would spend $19-billion to acquire 88 F-35 fighter jets. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, right, should take the opportunity to hold the government to account, writes Alan Williams. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | November 7, 2022
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured Sep. 13, 2022, on the Hill. Alan Williams suggests Poilievre's Conservative MPs should focus on the massive shipbuilding contract instead of focusing on small 'gotcha' issues of the past. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | November 7, 2022
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | November 7, 2022
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured Sep. 13, 2022, on the Hill. Alan Williams suggests Poilievre's Conservative MPs should focus on the massive shipbuilding contract instead of focusing on small 'gotcha' issues of the past. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 31, 2022
Canada need only to look at the U.S. Navy’s Constellation Class of frigates being built by Fincantieri to know we can do better, writes Alan Williams. U.S. Navy image/artist rendering courtesy of Fincantieri Marine Group
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 31, 2022
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 31, 2022
Canada need only to look at the U.S. Navy’s Constellation Class of frigates being built by Fincantieri to know we can do better, writes Alan Williams. U.S. Navy image/artist rendering courtesy of Fincantieri Marine Group
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | May 30, 2022
Defence Minister Anita Anand, pictured at a press conference on the Hill on Feb. 22. Until one minister is vested with overall accountability for defence procurement, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to introduce system-wide performance measures, argues Alan Williams. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | May 30, 2022
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | May 30, 2022
Defence Minister Anita Anand, pictured at a press conference on the Hill on Feb. 22. Until one minister is vested with overall accountability for defence procurement, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to introduce system-wide performance measures, argues Alan Williams. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 6, 2022
Halifax-class HMCS Vancouver is pictured in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates the current Canadian Surface Combatant program will cost at least $77.3-billion. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Navy/Daniel L. Zink
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 6, 2022
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 6, 2022
Halifax-class HMCS Vancouver is pictured in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates the current Canadian Surface Combatant program will cost at least $77.3-billion. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Navy/Daniel L. Zink
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 14, 2021
The Irving Shipbuilding Inc. facility in Halifax, N.S., pictured in July 2017. Irving Shipbuilding has been tasked with building 15 warships for the Royal Canadian Navy Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 14, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 14, 2021
The Irving Shipbuilding Inc. facility in Halifax, N.S., pictured in July 2017. Irving Shipbuilding has been tasked with building 15 warships for the Royal Canadian Navy Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 29, 2021
Design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 29, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 29, 2021
Design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 19, 2021
The Department of National Defence building, pictured, in Ottawa. The requirements should be met from within the funding available in DND’s budget, both with respect to acquisition costs and the long-term support costs, writes Alan Williams. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 19, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 19, 2021
The Department of National Defence building, pictured, in Ottawa. The requirements should be met from within the funding available in DND’s budget, both with respect to acquisition costs and the long-term support costs, writes Alan Williams. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 18, 2021
The design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship. The Department of National Defence wants to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate fleet with 15 Type 26 warships, which will be constructed at the Irving Shipbuilding, will cost an estimated $70-billion. The original cost was estimated to be $14-billion and the project has faced delays and increased costs. Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 18, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 18, 2021
The design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship. The Department of National Defence wants to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate fleet with 15 Type 26 warships, which will be constructed at the Irving Shipbuilding, will cost an estimated $70-billion. The original cost was estimated to be $14-billion and the project has faced delays and increased costs. Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 15, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 15, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 15, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 3, 2021
The design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship. The Department of National Defence wants to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate fleet with 15 Type 26 warships, which will be constructed at the Irving Shipbuilding, will cost an estimated $70-billion. The original cost was estimated to be $14-billion and the project has faced delays and increased costs. Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 3, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 3, 2021
The design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship. The Department of National Defence wants to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate fleet with 15 Type 26 warships, which will be constructed at the Irving Shipbuilding, will cost an estimated $70-billion. The original cost was estimated to be $14-billion and the project has faced delays and increased costs. Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 1, 2021
The design of the future Canadian Surface Combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship. In its just released report, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that it will cost $77.3-billion to acquire the Canadian Surface Combatants. Furthermore, these costs do not include the long-term costs to maintain and operate these ships for their predicted 30-year life, writes Alan Williams. Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 1, 2021
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 1, 2021
The design of the future Canadian Surface Combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship. In its just released report, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that it will cost $77.3-billion to acquire the Canadian Surface Combatants. Furthermore, these costs do not include the long-term costs to maintain and operate these ships for their predicted 30-year life, writes Alan Williams. Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 12, 2016
A Canadian CF-18 Hornet aircraft being prepared for a mission during Operation Impact, which included air strikes in Syria and Iraq. Canada's CF-18 fleet was originally expected to last only until 2003, but a long-standing program of upgrades and repairs are keeping them flying, for now. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 12, 2016
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 12, 2016
A Canadian CF-18 Hornet aircraft being prepared for a mission during Operation Impact, which included air strikes in Syria and Iraq. Canada's CF-18 fleet was originally expected to last only until 2003, but a long-standing program of upgrades and repairs are keeping them flying, for now. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 21, 2016
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 21, 2016
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 21, 2016