CANSEC is a global defence and security trade show, and Canada’s largest defence convention. The event, held annually in Ottawa, brings together representatives of private defence companies and dozens of delegations from foreign governments to showcase “leading-edge technology, products and services for land-based, naval, aerospace and joint forces military units.”
On the CANSEC homepage, the convention reports that attendees will also include 45 MPs, senators and cabinet ministers.The convention was founded in 1998, and is hosted by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).
This week, Ricochet Media’s request for a press pass to cover the event was declined on the basis that our organization “does not meet the CADSI Eligibility Requirements.”
CANSEC’s media accreditation page states: “New media applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the accreditation decisions are final. CANSEC is a private event and organizers reserve the right to deny accreditation.”
Just hours after the portal for media accreditation opened, this reporter applied for status on assignment for Ricochet Media. After following up, we received the following response by email.
“Thank you for registering for CANSEC 2026. We have reviewed your application and have declined it for the following reasons:
Your media organization does not meet the CADSI Eligibility Requirements.”
CADSI’s only eligibility criteria regarding media organizations is that applicants must be “a member of an established local, national or international media organization with relevant identification.”
Ricochet is a national, non-profit media outlet founded in 2014. It wins national journalism awards every year, and is nominated for a record six this year. A past winner of the Canadian Hillman Prize, Ricochet is also a Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization and a Registered Journalism Organization, as designated by the federal government.
Several other independent outlets and journalists, including The Maple, have also reported having their applications to cover the conference denied for the same reason.
The Breach had earlier reported the convention denied them press access because of their “aggressively critical anti-war journalism.”
According to The Breach, a CADSI representative then offered conditional access to the outlet, on the condition that it would result in positive coverage on CANSEC.
This year’s CANSEC convention kicked off Wednesday morning, and featured an announcement from Prime Minister Mark Carney to attendees that Canada has entered into negotiations to buy Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft, the latest installment of the Carney government’s plan to militarize the Arctic.
This year’s keynote speakers also include Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Joe Biden’s former national security advisor, Jake Sullivan.
Ricochet reached out to CADSI’s media relations team via phone and email, including Director of Communications Monique Scotti, and received no response. However, one of several attempts to get an answer about our press pass refusal elicited this auto response from CADSI’s general contact email.
“With the government of Canada’s renewed focus on defence, including an increase in spending to hit NATO’s two per cent target this fiscal year, CADSI is receiving a significant uptick in requests for service, advice, and assistance. Rest assured that your message has been received, and a member of our team will reply as soon as possible.”
Editors’ note: One of our senior editors wrote to Scotti directly, on a leadership level, seeking clarification on the lack of communication with this journalist. She did not respond.
