Minister's message

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, PC, OMM, MSM, CD, MP

As Minister of National Defence, it is my privilege to present the Departmental Results Report for fiscal year 2019-20. Throughout the year, Defence personnel continued to advance the initiatives in Canada’s 20-year defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged while remaining ready to assist Canadians when called upon

As we approached the end of 2019-20, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. Defence, like the rest of the Government of Canada, put in place exceptional measures to keep our personnel healthy and able to deliver critical operations and serve Canadians. From the start, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members were part of Canada’s fight against COVID-19 when they helped bring Canadians home from China, Japan and the United States. And they continued this fight into the next fiscal year when they answered the call to help Ontario and Quebec long-term care homes that had major outbreaks of the virus.

When Canadians need our women and men in uniform, they are there. That was the case in 2019, when New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario were impacted by floods, when Nova Scotia was dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, and when Pikangikum First Nation members needed to be evacuated due to heavy smoke from forest fires. In early 2020, they were in Newfoundland and Labrador when a major snow storm led to states of emergency in several communities.

Canada’s friends and allies can also count on our Armed Forces. In 2019-20, they continued to defend North America in partnership with the United States military, and were deployed to more than 20 peace and security operations around the world – helping Canada remain secure and exerting a positive influence on the global stage.

With the right care, support and capabilities, our people are better able to carry out their difficult missions. The array of projects delivered since the last results report included changes to the Reserve Force pay structure, new training tools and services for members and their families as they transition from active duty to post-military life through the CAF Transition Group, final delivery of the upgraded Light Armoured Vehicle III, and builder trials for the future Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf.

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces always stand ready to serve. I am proud of all that the military and civilian Defence Team accomplished during the last fiscal year. In this report, you will find more information about the wide range of their activities on behalf of Canada and Canadians.

 

Original signed by:

 

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, PC, OMM, MSM, CD, MP

Minister of National Defence

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