Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Carleton Model NATO is a unique four-day event that brings together university students from across Canada and the United States to Ottawa to simulate NATO decision-making. Students represent NATO and Partnership countries and engage in debate and collaborative problem-solving in the main committees of NATO on pressing issues affecting transatlantic and international security. Delegates must work together with other members to prepare communiqués while at the same time being careful to represent the particular interests of their own country.

As the North Atlantic Council (NAC) has the final say over everything that the alliance does, every communiqué that NATO committees agree upon must subsequently be passed by the NAC on the final day of the conference. In addition, the NAC is a consensus committee. So if any delegate on the NAC votes against a communiqué, it will not be adopted. This feature of NATO decision making provides an exciting challenge to delegates as they work to coordinate policy and negotiate strategies within their respective teams.

While committee agenda items are communicated in advance to allow delegates to prepare their country’s positions on specific security issues, the Carleton Model NATO conference also includes an element of improvisation, testing the diplomatic skills of participants: At some point during the two full days of committee deliberations and debate, organizers introduce a real-world crisis that requires immediate action by individual committees and the NAC. This immersive experience provides students with a unique understanding of the challenges of NATO decisionmaking and the management of pressing global security problems.

At the Closing Ceremonies organizers award the best Delegates in each committee and best overall Delegation at the conference.

In addition to the two days of NATO simulations, the Carleton MNATO conference also hosts distinguished speakers, social events, learning and professional networking opportunities that only Ottawa can provide. We offer delegates opportunities to connect with professionals in Ottawa’s policy and diplomatic communities. Delegates attend briefing sessions at the embassy of their assigned country or meet with officials at Global Affairs and Department of National Defence. The Opening Ceremonies feature a keynote speaker and reception. The second day features a catered luncheon and a distinguished speaker. Past speakers have included Canada’s Chiefs of Defence Staff, Ministers of Defence, Canadian and foreign Ambassadors, NATO officials, military attachés, and academic experts.

The conference normally takes place in February each year. Carleton Model NATO 2024 is curently scheduled for February 22-25, 2024. More information regarding registration will be available shortly on the website and on social media channels. For questions in the meantime, please email carletonmnato@gmail.com.

Carleton MNATO takes place in Ottawa at various venues. MNATO 2023 took place at the Ottawa Marriott in downtown Ottawa. In the past our conference venues have included: Committee Rooms of the Parliament of Canada, Carleton University, the Canadian War Museum, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and the Lord Elgin Hotel.

The 2024 Carleton MNATO will be held at the Delta Ottawa City Center Hotel, 101 Lyon St N, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Carleton MNATO offers a unique and unparalleled experience to develop a greater understanding of critical global security problems facing Canada and the North Atlantic alliance. It also offers delegates opportunities to connect with professionals in Ottawa’s policy and diplomatic communities. Delegates are given a unique opportunity to attend briefings at embassies and High Commissions and Canadian government departments. Delegates are also hosted at receptions, including the kick-off reception following opening ceremonies, featuring keynote addresses from leading international affairs and military professionals.

Our fee schedule for the upcoming conference will be released shortly. Organizers try to keep costs as low as possible while maintaining the highest quality experience for delegates.

Delegations register online via our registration page. Payment is expected at the time of registration via credit card. Alternative forms of payment can be arranged with conference organizers. Registration is not guaranteed unless payment is made. Country assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

While individual students may attend, Carleton MNATO is best experienced as part of a team delegation. We encourage participants to register as part of a single university delegation (between 2-30 people). This allows MNATO organizers to assign delegations the same country: one student on each committee. For example, if four delegates register together and are assigned to represent Canada, each delegate will represent Canada on each committee. Please contact your university’s Model NATO or Model UN team to find out if they are attending. Alternately, you may register as a university team with a group of students at your school who are not affiliated with a Model UN or Model NATO team.

Note that individuals are able to apply by themselves as one-person delegations.

The best practice is to use one credit card to register a single Delegation, and have all participants reimburse the credit card holder.

We encourage you to contact carletonmnato@gmail.com with any questions.

Carleton MNATO is a team-based conference. When delegations register, they will be sent their committee assignments based on their country preferences and may work out amongst themselves the individual assigned to each committee. For example, if a Delegation is assigned to represent Canada, they will likely be allotted a “Canada” assignment on each committee. The team itself will then determine which of their members goes to which committee.

Yes! We encourage all delegates interested in MNATO to register for the conference. We provide training materials upon registration to each delegate, which cover the Rules of Procedure. We also offer an optional training session before the formal proceedings begin.

All Delegates are required to submit a Position Paper before the conference starts, based on their country assignment. More information can be found here: https://carleton.ca/mnato/conference/.

Carleton MNATO will be in compliance with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal government public health protocols to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Please refer to the Carleton University COVID-19 page for further information https://carleton.ca/covid19/.

Please contact the Project Manager (carletonmnato@gmail.com) with any questions or concerns about any aspect of the conference. The Secretariat team will be happy to assist.