Vision, mission, raison d’être and operating context

Vision

Deliver the ready, resilient, and relevant forces required to meet the fundamental responsibility of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces – the defence of Canada and assertion of its sovereignty.

Raison d'être

In 2024, Canada released its updated defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free (ONSAF): A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence, which outlines Canada's plan to ensure the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) remains ready, resilient and relevant in the context of global instability and geopolitical uncertainty. The Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF support its renewed strategic vision for defence in which Canada is:

• Strong at home, with a military asserting our sovereignty, particularly in the Arctic and northern regions, and ready to provide assistance to civil authorities when Canadians are faced with natural disasters and other emergencies, or in need of search and rescue support;
• Secure in North America, active in a renewed defence partnership with the United States that is focused on restoring continental defence and deterrence in all domains: sea, land, air space and cyber, and through a modernized NORAD; and
• Engaged in the world, with the CAF making reliable and valuable contributions to our alliances and partnerships, particularly in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, in support of a more stable, peaceful world.

The National Defence Act (NDA) establishes DND and the CAF as separate entities, operating within an integrated National Defence Headquarters, as they pursue their primary responsibility of providing defence for Canada and Canadians.

Mandate and role

This raison d'être forms the mandate that is the responsibility of the Minister of National Defence. The Minister presides over the Department and as established by the NDA.

The Department has an essential relationship with Veteran's Affairs Canada (VAC), as demonstrated by the Minister of Veterans Affairs' dual role as Associate Minister of National Defence. The position is provided for by the NDA. The Associate Minister is responsible for defence files, as mandated by the Prime Minister, with the specific priority of ensuring a seamless transition for CAF members leaving the military.

The Minister of National Defence is advised by the Deputy Minister (DM), who is appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The DM is the Minister's most senior civilian advisor, and is authorized under the law to carry out, on the Minister's behalf, many aspects of the management and direction of the Department. The DM is responsible for policy advice, departmental management, interdepartmental coordination, international defence relations, public service renewal, federal-provincial relations, and portfolio management. Under the Financial Administration Act, the DM is designated as an Accounting Officer with the responsibility of ensuring financial oversight and the prudent management of allocated resources and is accountable before parliamentary committees to provide explanations on matters for which the DM is responsible.

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the primary provider of military advice to the Government. The CDS has direct responsibility for the command, control and administration of the CAF, morale and welfare and personnel support programs of members and their families and is appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The CDS advises the Minister of National Defence on issues such as current and future military requirements, force capabilities, possible courses of action and the consequences of undertaking (or failing to undertake) various military activities. The CDS is also responsible for maintaining international military relations with Canada's allies and partners. The CDS is accountable to the Minister for the conduct of all CAF activities, as well as for the CAF's readiness and ability to fulfill military commitments and obligations undertaken by the Government. The CDS is also the advisor to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on major military developments and issues.

For more general information about the Department, see the corporate information section of this report. For more information on the Department's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the Minister of National Defence Supplementary Mandate Letter and Minister of National Defence Mandate Letter.

Operating Context

1. National Defence policies and activities are informed by the evolving security context in which the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operates. Canada's new defence policy, our North, Strong and Free (ONSAF), recognizes that the threats and challenges identified in the 2017 Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada's defence policy are intensifying and evolving more quickly than anticipated. ONSAF identifies three key trends that will impact Canadian security and prosperity in the coming years: Climate change and its destabilizing impacts on our Arctic and North;
2. Challenges to the international order, with strategic competition in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific and instability around the world; and
3. The changing character of conflict, defined by rapid advances in technology.

The implications of our rapidly changing security environment make clear that we need to adjust our approach to defence. ONSAF responds to these trends with resolve and commitment. That is why, consistent with our NATO commitments, Canada is making significant investments to ensure the CAF is ready, resilient and relevant in the new security environment by investing in the foundations of the military and new capabilities to defend against new emerging threats to Canada. Against this backdrop, in April 2024, the government released its updated defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free (ONSAF): A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence. This renewed policy prioritizes the defence of Canada, including the Arctic and North, by investing in a ready, resilient and relevant Canadian Armed Forces. ONSAF reiterates Canada's commitment to detect, deter, and defeat evolving threats to North American in partnership with the United States. ONSAF builds upon Canada's NORAD modernization plan announced in June 2022 which will help ensure NORAD has the capabilities needed to carry out its mission in the face of modern and emerging threats in the aerospace domain, including through Canada's Arctic and Northern regions, strengthen the defence of NATO's Western Flank and help ensure North America remains a secure base to be engaged globally and project power in support of Allies during a crisis or conflict.

Taken together, these efforts will help ensure that Canada can continue to field a world-class military that can deploy and sustain forces across a broad spectrum of military activities, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to high-intensity conventional warfare.

For more information regarding the Operating Context, please see Our North, Strong and Free (ONSAF): A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence – Chapter 1 – Canada in a Time of Global Uncertainty Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada's Defence Policy (SSE)