Foundation for Defense of Democracies

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) maintains an office in Ottawa, Ontario which focuses singularly on Canadian national security and foreign policy.

FDD’s Canada office hosts briefings on Parliament Hill, expert roundtables, book releases, and panel discussions within the political and policy communities. It also generates timely and cutting-edge research and publications. While most of FDD’s research is designed to spark discussion and debate in the marketplace of ideas, some of it is targeted specifically to the needs and requests of Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators, and their staff. Working with officials from all parties, FDD believes that national security transcends partisanship.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) maintains an office in Ottawa, Ontario which focuses singularly on Canadian national security and foreign policy.

FDD’s Canada office hosts briefings on Parliament Hill, expert roundtables, book releases, and panel discussions within the political and policy communities. It also generates timely and cutting-edge research and publications. While most of FDD’s research is designed to spark discussion and debate in the marketplace of ideas, some of it is targeted specifically to the needs and requests of Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators, and their staff. Working with officials from all parties, FDD believes that national security transcends partisanship.

Edited by: Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Senator Linda Frum

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FDD also provides expert testimony to parliamentary committees. Recent FDD testimony addressed: sanctions against Iran; the importance of designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity in Canada; strategies to protect Canada from Iranian efforts to acquire dual-use technology; the dangers of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability; and the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.

FDD’s expertise includes Canadian counterterrorism tools and best practices, and the sponsorship of terrorism by foreign states. FDD will also continue to focus its attention on current events in Iran, Syria, and the Arab world, with an eye toward recommending appropriate options and responses. 

Based in the Ottawa office, Sheryl Saperia is FDD’s Director of Policy for Canada. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, a law degree from the University of Western Ontario, and a Masters of Science degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. FDD relies on Ms. Saperia for her depth of experience in Canadian politics, counterterrorism research, policy, and advocacy. She has contributed to the legal and advocacy efforts of Canadian terror victims for over five years, helping to draft and successfully lobby for legislation allowing civil lawsuits against local and state sponsors and perpetrators of terrorism. She also directed the government relations work at a public policy consulting firm in Ottawa.