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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.

Bottom line? We’re procuring ships for two-to-three times their real costs

  • In addition to the ships’ more than doubled price tag, delivery will take twice as long. Worse, to date no one has been held
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 22, 2024
Bill Blair
Bill Blair
National Defence Minister Bill Blair, pictured at CANSEC in Ottawa on May 29, 2024, announced on June 28 that construction will begin on a test module for the first Canadian Surface Combatant. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Bottom line? We’re procuring ships for two-to-three times their real costs

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 22, 2024
  • In addition to the ships’ more than doubled price tag, delivery will take twice as long. Worse, to date no one has been held

Bottom line? We’re procuring ships for two-to-three times their real costs

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 22, 2024
  • In addition to the ships’ more than doubled price tag, delivery will take twice as long. Worse, to date no one has been held
Bill Blair
National Defence Minister Bill Blair, pictured at CANSEC in Ottawa on May 29, 2024, announced on June 28 that construction will begin on a test module for the first Canadian Surface Combatant. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Government of Canada should actively seek the advice of industry so that programs can be delivered with objectives clearly defined

  • I recommend that the government establish a risk-management framework for federal public service contracts that assigns a risk to each factor. The higher the
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

Government of Canada should actively seek the advice of industry so that programs can be delivered with objectives clearly defined

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | December 19, 2023
  • I recommend that the government establish a risk-management framework for federal public service contracts that assigns a risk to each factor. The higher the

Government of Canada should actively seek the advice of industry so that programs can be delivered with objectives clearly defined

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | December 19, 2023
  • I recommend that the government establish a risk-management framework for federal public service contracts that assigns a risk to each factor. The higher the
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

Alan Williams: how to cut $900-million at DND

  • In this mock memo to federal Defence Minister Bill Blair, Alan Williams, a former assistant deputy minister of materiel at DND, suggests a radical
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

Alan Williams: how to cut $900-million at DND

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 9, 2023
  • In this mock memo to federal Defence Minister Bill Blair, Alan Williams, a former assistant deputy minister of materiel at DND, suggests a radical

Alan Williams: how to cut $900-million at DND

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 9, 2023
  • In this mock memo to federal Defence Minister Bill Blair, Alan Williams, a former assistant deputy minister of materiel at DND, suggests a radical
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

Next defence policy must be achievable and fully funded

  • The last policy lacked the two key things necessary for implementation: it wasn't fully funded and lacked agile and timely decision-making processes. That these
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

Next defence policy must be achievable and fully funded

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 6, 2023
  • The last policy lacked the two key things necessary for implementation: it wasn't fully funded and lacked agile and timely decision-making processes. That these

Next defence policy must be achievable and fully funded

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 6, 2023
  • The last policy lacked the two key things necessary for implementation: it wasn't fully funded and lacked agile and timely decision-making processes. That these
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

Important to differentiate between good and bad federal public service contracts

  • To say federal contracting can get a little complicated is an understatement. The factors that help distinguish the good service contracts from the bad
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

Important to differentiate between good and bad federal public service contracts

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 5, 2023
  • To say federal contracting can get a little complicated is an understatement. The factors that help distinguish the good service contracts from the bad

Important to differentiate between good and bad federal public service contracts

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 5, 2023
  • To say federal contracting can get a little complicated is an understatement. The factors that help distinguish the good service contracts from the bad
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

Fighter jet deal a federal cost pit Poilievre should capitalize on

  • The $19-billion fleet of F-35s is a prime opportunity for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to take the federal government to task and show true
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

Fighter jet deal a federal cost pit Poilievre should capitalize on

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 12, 2023
  • The $19-billion fleet of F-35s is a prime opportunity for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to take the federal government to task and show true

Fighter jet deal a federal cost pit Poilievre should capitalize on

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 12, 2023
  • The $19-billion fleet of F-35s is a prime opportunity for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to take the federal government to task and show true
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

Poilievre’s Conservatives should dig deep into $300-billion price tag for new Navy warships, not ‘gotcha’ issues of the past

  • The Government Operations and Estimates Committee is especially well-positioned to set the agenda and investigate critical defence matters as it is chaired by a
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

Poilievre’s Conservatives should dig deep into $300-billion price tag for new Navy warships, not ‘gotcha’ issues of the past

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | November 7, 2022
  • The Government Operations and Estimates Committee is especially well-positioned to set the agenda and investigate critical defence matters as it is chaired by a

Poilievre’s Conservatives should dig deep into $300-billion price tag for new Navy warships, not ‘gotcha’ issues of the past

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | November 7, 2022
  • The Government Operations and Estimates Committee is especially well-positioned to set the agenda and investigate critical defence matters as it is chaired by a
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

Canada can do better than a $306-billion Surface Combatants price tag

  • The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s Oct. 27 report on the life-cycle costs of the Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) estimated the total to
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

Canada can do better than a $306-billion Surface Combatants price tag

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 31, 2022
  • The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s Oct. 27 report on the life-cycle costs of the Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) estimated the total to

Canada can do better than a $306-billion Surface Combatants price tag

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 31, 2022
  • The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s Oct. 27 report on the life-cycle costs of the Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) estimated the total to
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

Feds should create a new, single entity Defence Procurement Canada

  • Amongst our close allies, Canada stands alone with its system of “dispersed accountability.” In the United States, the secretary of defence is accountable for
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

Feds should create a new, single entity Defence Procurement Canada

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | May 30, 2022
  • Amongst our close allies, Canada stands alone with its system of “dispersed accountability.” In the United States, the secretary of defence is accountable for

Feds should create a new, single entity Defence Procurement Canada

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | May 30, 2022
  • Amongst our close allies, Canada stands alone with its system of “dispersed accountability.” In the United States, the secretary of defence is accountable for
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

Canada has no option but pivot away from current Surface Combatants path

  • I could not agree more with the title of Richard Shimooka’s latest publication, No other option, published by the Macdonald Laurier Institute in December.
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

Canada has no option but pivot away from current Surface Combatants path

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 6, 2022
  • I could not agree more with the title of Richard Shimooka’s latest publication, No other option, published by the Macdonald Laurier Institute in December.

Canada has no option but pivot away from current Surface Combatants path

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | January 6, 2022
  • I could not agree more with the title of Richard Shimooka’s latest publication, No other option, published by the Macdonald Laurier Institute in December.
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

Soaring costs threaten DND’s shipbuilding mandate

  • OTTAWA—Having a public debate on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project for the Royal Canadian Navy is in everyone’s best interest. And so, I was
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

Soaring costs threaten DND’s shipbuilding mandate

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 14, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Having a public debate on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project for the Royal Canadian Navy is in everyone’s best interest. And so, I was

Soaring costs threaten DND’s shipbuilding mandate

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | July 14, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Having a public debate on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project for the Royal Canadian Navy is in everyone’s best interest. And so, I was
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

Why is Canada paying so much for 15 CSC combat ships?

  • It is encouraging to see increased public debate on the planned acquisition of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
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

Why is Canada paying so much for 15 CSC combat ships?

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 29, 2021
  • It is encouraging to see increased public debate on the planned acquisition of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).

Why is Canada paying so much for 15 CSC combat ships?

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 29, 2021
  • It is encouraging to see increased public debate on the planned acquisition of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
Design of the future Canadian surface combatant will be based on BAE’s Type 26 warship Image courtesy of Public Services and Procurement Canada

Canadian Surface Combatants and the statement of requirements fiasco

  • The foundation of any successful procurement is the establishment of an appropriate statement of requirements (SOR). It is understood that a major contributor to
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

Canadian Surface Combatants and the statement of requirements fiasco

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 19, 2021
  • The foundation of any successful procurement is the establishment of an appropriate statement of requirements (SOR). It is understood that a major contributor to

Canadian Surface Combatants and the statement of requirements fiasco

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | April 19, 2021
  • The foundation of any successful procurement is the establishment of an appropriate statement of requirements (SOR). It is understood that a major contributor to
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

If AG won’t tackle Canadian Surface Combatants debacle, I will

  • Let me see if I have it right. The program to construct 15 new Canadian Surface Combatants has seen its acquisition costs triple from
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

If AG won’t tackle Canadian Surface Combatants debacle, I will

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 18, 2021
  • Let me see if I have it right. The program to construct 15 new Canadian Surface Combatants has seen its acquisition costs triple from

If AG won’t tackle Canadian Surface Combatants debacle, I will

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 18, 2021
  • Let me see if I have it right. The program to construct 15 new Canadian Surface Combatants has seen its acquisition costs triple from
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

DND can’t allow a quarter-trillion-dollar program to proceed unchallenged

  • The Naval Association of Canada (NAC) just released a paper commenting on the recent report by the Office of the Parliamentary Budgetary Officer (PBO)
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 15, 2021

DND can’t allow a quarter-trillion-dollar program to proceed unchallenged

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 15, 2021
  • The Naval Association of Canada (NAC) just released a paper commenting on the recent report by the Office of the Parliamentary Budgetary Officer (PBO)

DND can’t allow a quarter-trillion-dollar program to proceed unchallenged

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 15, 2021
  • The Naval Association of Canada (NAC) just released a paper commenting on the recent report by the Office of the Parliamentary Budgetary Officer (PBO)

DND sees itself as infallible on Navy ships project

  • OTTAWA—In reading the statement by the Department of National Defence on the Parliamentary Budget Office’s (PBO) report on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC), one
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

DND sees itself as infallible on Navy ships project

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—In reading the statement by the Department of National Defence on the Parliamentary Budget Office’s (PBO) report on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC), one

DND sees itself as infallible on Navy ships project

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—In reading the statement by the Department of National Defence on the Parliamentary Budget Office’s (PBO) report on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC), one
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

Navy desperately needs new ships, but they can’t come at any price

  • Canada appears to be on the cusp of building some of the most expensive warships on the planet. The Feb. 24, 2021, report from
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

Navy desperately needs new ships, but they can’t come at any price

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 1, 2021
  • Canada appears to be on the cusp of building some of the most expensive warships on the planet. The Feb. 24, 2021, report from

Navy desperately needs new ships, but they can’t come at any price

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 1, 2021
  • Canada appears to be on the cusp of building some of the most expensive warships on the planet. The Feb. 24, 2021, report from
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

Only competition will reveal the best CF-18 replacement

  • In an op-ed published in The Hill Times Oct. 5 entitled Why sole-sourcing the F-35 is best, Richard Shimooka of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute
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

Only competition will reveal the best CF-18 replacement

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 12, 2016
  • In an op-ed published in The Hill Times Oct. 5 entitled Why sole-sourcing the F-35 is best, Richard Shimooka of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute

Only competition will reveal the best CF-18 replacement

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | October 12, 2016
  • In an op-ed published in The Hill Times Oct. 5 entitled Why sole-sourcing the F-35 is best, Richard Shimooka of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute
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

The disaster that remains the NSPS

  • On Feb. 23, the government presented its new national shipbuilding procurement strategy (NSPS) to acquire the $26-billion Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC). Many of us
Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 21, 2016

The disaster that remains the NSPS

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 21, 2016
  • On Feb. 23, the government presented its new national shipbuilding procurement strategy (NSPS) to acquire the $26-billion Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC). Many of us

The disaster that remains the NSPS

Opinion | BY ALAN WILLIAMS | March 21, 2016
  • On Feb. 23, the government presented its new national shipbuilding procurement strategy (NSPS) to acquire the $26-billion Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC). Many of us
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