Mandate of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces
Who we are
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) support a strategic vision for defence in which Canada is strong at home, secure in North America and engaged in the world. From regular forces to reserve forces and civilian employees, the Defence Team stretches from coast to coast to coast. Its membership represents the strength, skills and diversity of Canada, and brings the experience necessary to protect and support Canadians no matter what is asked of them.
What we do
DND and the CAF have complementary roles to play in:
- Providing advice and support to the Minister of National Defence
- Implementing Government decisions regarding the defence of Canadian interests at home and abroad.
The CAF serves on the sea, on land, in the air, and in space and cyberspace with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.
In 2024, Canada released its renewed defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, which outlines Canada’s plan to ensure the CAF remains ready, resilient and relevant in the context of increasing global uncertainty. This means doing more to keep us strong at home, secure in North America and engaged in the world, under six themes including:
- Supporting our people by placing focus on recruitment, retention and personal management, as well as investments into the quality of life for military members in form of support for health, housing and childcare. For all that CAF members give up for Canadians they all deserve to feel safe and valued in their workplace, it is our priority progress culture change.
- Strengthening the foundations of our military to ensure CAF members have the tools they need to do their job effectively and keep them safe. This will include modernizing existing capabilities and acquiring new ones; building civilian capacity; reviewing and reforming defence procurement; accelerating digital transformation.
- Building an innovative industrial base by leveraging innovation and fostering relationships with industry partners to sustain existing equipment and accelerate production capacity in Canada. This will allow the CAF to make reliable and valuable contributions to our allies and partners, particularly in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, in support of a more stable, peaceful world.
- Defending Canada in the Arctic and northern regions, where the changing physical and geopolitical landscapes have created new threats and vulnerabilities. By upgrading our continental defences to better detect incoming threats we can remain ready to assist when Canadians face natural disasters and other emergencies or are in need of search and rescue support.
- Defending North America as an active partner with the United States to restore continental defence and deterrence in all domains: sea, land, air, space and cyber, and through a modernized NORAD.
- Advancing Canada’s global interests and values through continuing valuable Canadian Armed Forces contributions to global efforts to deter major power conflict, confront terrorism and insurgency, and address instability.
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