By Vincent J. Curtis
We continue our series featuring stars from the Esprit de Corps Commandos hockey team. This month’s feature player is star centre man David Pratt.
Pratt began his political playing career with Team Liberal during the era of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Pratt began developing his stick-handling skills early, serving as an Executive Assistant to several MPs before his own election to office, first as a Nepean and subsequently Ottawa-Carleton Regional Councillor. Under the tutelage of Liberal Party Coach Jean Chretien, Pratt was elected to the House of Commons in 1997 and re-elected in 2000.
During his term in the House, Pratt served as the Chair of the Defence Committee from 2001 to 2003, when he was asked by then Team Liberal head coach Paul Martin to serve as Canada’s top defence-man in the role of Minister of National Defence (MND).
“I have always had an interest in military history, dating back to about Grade Five, when I read a book called “Knights of the Air” about Canadian fighter aces during the First World War.” Pratt told Esprit de Corps. “This stimulated an interest in Canadian, British and American political and military history, which continues to this day.”
During the 2004 federal election, Pratt suffered defeat. He lost his re-election bid, and needed to re-invent himself.
“I was very fortunate to be offered a position as a Special Ambassador for the Canadian Red Cross, which got me directly involved in some issues close to my heart including disaster response, international humanitarian law and the role of the Red Cross as auxiliary to government,” said Pratt.
Trying to play himself back into game shape, David hit upon the idea of capitalizing on his skills at stick-handling through the corridors of power, particularly the corridors of the defence sector. Thus the idea of David Pratt and Associates (DPA) was born. “I formed DPA in 2011 and we have served dozens of clients over that time” said Pratt. “We are a government relations and strategic marketing firm advising clients who are pursuing defence and security procurement opportunities with the Government of Canada.”
DPA brings together a wealth of talent, experience and deep knowledge drawn from former members of the armed forces, the senior bureaucracy, the foreign service and politics. They are unique in the government relations sector, based upon the team model which they have developed. DPA prides themselves on the quality of communications products which they produce, and the solid advice and strategic guidance that position their clients for success. Underpinning all of this is an ethical approach which reassures DPA’s clients and bolsters confidence in their approach. It should be noted that DPA is one of the only TRACE certified government relations companies in Ottawa.
“Our clients range from some of the world’s largest defence companies to small, start-up enterprises with new technologies eager and ready to break into the defence and security sector. This requires flexibility and agility on our part, as well as a curiosity and readiness to learn about our client’s products. This increases our knowledge base and helps us work side by side with clients in their communications with government. The diversity of clients who approach us, and that we serve, requires that we execute very client-centric solutions tailor-made to their needs.”
Pratt compared the issues facing DND when he was Martin’s MND with those of today. There are similarities. “At the time, the new Martin Government was focussed on creating a new defence and foreign policy that brought together the three D’s: diplomacy, defence and development. Some of the big issues we faced at the time were our engagements in Afghanistan and Haiti, the issue of ballistic missile defence as part of continental defence, acquiring new maritime helicopters, and building on our Special Forces capability” said Pratt. “We were also moving forward with new supply ships for the Navy, a National Shipbuilding Strategy, high frequency surface wave radar, and we were looking at acquiring remotely piloted airborne systems.”
“My clients certainly have the capability to address some of the most daunting defence and security challenges facing Canada and our allies today. In fact, a good portion of my work involves helping to educate our DND customer and Canadian Forces personnel on ground-breaking and truly impressive technologies that keep us two or three steps ahead of our adversaries.” said Pratt.
While he did not think it would be appropriate to discuss individual companies, Pratt did stress that many of the companies DPA works with are in the business of protective technology that would save lives - both military and civilian.
“One of the important projects I’m involved in right now focusses on lobbying the government to fix the process of granting export permits. This issue touches many companies across the country, and is having a very negative impact on the ability of Canada’s defence and aerospace sector to compete internationally.” said Pratt. “We all recognize that the Minister of Foreign Affairs needs to uphold the letter and intent of the Arms Trade Treaty. However, the current export permit process is unduly long, lacks transparency, and is causing real harm and lost opportunities for many Canadian companies.” Pratt explained that some companies have gone out of business because they could not ship product, others are considering re-locating, and some others are losing business to our allies whose export permit processes are equally thorough, but more streamlined and business friendly.
“Results are what counts,“ said Pratt. “In terms of contracts or government assistance secured for our clients, we are well into the hundreds of millions”, he said. What I value most, however, is the personal friendships I have developed over the years with clients. Loyalty is always a two-way street.” explained Pratt.
Pratt keeps himself in good physical condition. “I have been an avid runner for over 40 years and am still getting out three or four times a week for a 5km trek. I took up a more intense regime of swimming and biking a couple of years ago, but my first love is hockey. Pre-COVID, I was playing two or three times a week winter and summer.”
Commandos player-coach-GM Scott Taylor noticed Pratt’s dedication, and offered him a try-out in 2013. “If you will excuse the play on words, Scott and the other Commandos have a certain Esprit de Corps which I really like. I think I’m one of, if not the, oldest player on the team, so they are very generous to allow me to skate with them.”
Readers should not get the impression that Pratt is just another faceless, boring lobbyist. In his youth, he was something of a risk taker. “I once jumped out of a perfectly good aircraft at 2000 feet as part of a promotion for the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association,” said Pratt. “I also entered a speed skiing competition two years after learning to ski and was clocked at 100 km per hour.”
While he loves sports, Pratt also has a cerebral side. “Three years ago, I had the honour of participating in the Oxford Union debates. I am also a Jeopardy fanatic,” he said. “My idea of a great evening would be watching Jeopardy followed by an episode of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.”
Looking back over his long career gave Pratt pause to reflect. “I am most proud of my family – my wife Alison and our children.”
