Details on transfer payment programs

• 6.1 Naval and Army Bases, Air force Wings enable military operations and defence activities
• 6.2 Defence infrastructure is well-managed throughout its lifecycle

The Department of National Defence (DND) uses the CAP to optimize its infrastructure by seeking cost-effective solutions with eligible recipients who have the mandate and capacity to operate and maintain the infrastructure and who may also benefit from joint use opportunities. Contributions are made to:

• Upgrade infrastructure (e.g. roads, sidewalks, and sewers in residential quarters; water treatment plants and water distribution systems that serve operational and non-operational requirements) after it has been transferred from DND to the eligible recipient;
• Expand and/or upgrade existing local infrastructure to better support DND requirements (e.g. water treatment plants, water distribution systems, airport runway extensions, roads); and/or
• Construct new local infrastructure, such as:
  • Community-oriented facilities for shared-use by the Base/Wing and local authorities (e.g. arenas, gymnasiums, swimming pools, community centres),
  • Infrastructure to support non-operational requirements such as for residential accommodation (e.g. roads, sidewalks, sewers), and
  • Infrastructure to support operational requirements (e.g. new access to the Base/Wing).

Results achieved include:

• Collaborating with local authorities to upgrade/expand/construct and own and operate public infrastructure and services that DND requires.
• Reducing DND non-core infrastructure, minimizing DND liability and reducing future operating and capital costs by transferring the responsibility of municipal infrastructure to local municipalities;
• Improved/new/maintained infrastructure for use by DND members and their families.
• Supporting DND’s operational requirements by contributing to the optimization of municipal infrastructure in use by DND’s evolving force structure; and
• Enhancing the quality of life in the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) sponsored the participation of 1,716 military personnel and civilians from the ministries of Defence from the 58 MTCP member countries in cooperative training and military professional development projects. These activities allowed Canada’s Defence Attachés, diplomats, as well as senior departmental and military representatives to establish and maintain bilateral relations in support of CAF operations, and other departmental and Government of Canada defence diplomacy priorities, especially in the Human Rights and Democratic control of armed forces. The Program met its objectives by delivering to its membership courses that were preparing them for Peace Support operation and fostering interoperability amongst them and with CAF. MTCP activity successfully helped to maintain or achieve influence in the areas of interest to Canada, either by conducting training in selected countries or prioritizing training to specific member countries in accordance with the Global Engagement Strategy.

The results for 2020-21 were less impactful than a regular year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MTCP adapted by moving to online/distance learning activities, as well as some very limited in-person training.

The Innovation Networks (IN) Element continued to provide funding towards research in the areas of emerging and advanced protective materials, and autonomous systems for defence and security during the fiscal year. Twelve ongoing projects aim to help ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) continues to benefit from the latest cutting-edge research.

It also supported two projects valued at $1 million each that were identified via the National Research Council’s Pandemic Response challenge that aimed to develop innovative COVID-19 rapid testing for Canadians.

A third project related to COVID-19 was also initiated, valued at $2.1 million and with a focus on antiviral capability ($700,000 in 2020-21).

The Contest Element advanced through several successive competitive rounds of the Pop-Up City Contest, for solution integration through partnerships, which resulted in six consortiums obtaining funding of $50,000 and they moved on to the next round. This effort is designed to lead towards integrated solutions for water, waste and energy systems for temporary re-locatable camps for CAF deployments.

The Competitive Projects (CP) Element of IDEaS launched four strategic challenges through a Call for Proposals in support of the development of innovative solutions for pandemic-response.

Through this Call for Proposals, the IDEaS Program awarded 48 contribution agreements where projects were funded up to $200,000 to support the development of solutions of innovations. A total of $8.7 million in funding has been provided. All projects are mid-way through their six-month work period. Further funding will be provided to promising projects.

All 63 recipients of and IDEaS contribution agreements - whether it be through Innovation Networks or Competitive Projects - engage regularly with the program because of the projects schedule (claims and progress reporting).

For the Contest Element, the Program engaged contestants regularly as the Pop-Up City Contest moved through two critical phases during the year, requiring substantial direction and engagement, as well as communications oversight.

Canada’s financial contributions to the Alliance continue to ensure Canadian security and provide leverage and influence within the multi-national body. These contributions also provided access to military capabilities which Canada can leverage.

The contributions further served to help protect and strengthen the freedom and security of all Alliance members by political and military means in accordance with the North Atlantic Treaty and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The benefits of Canada’s investment in NATO included access to strategic information, intelligence, capabilities, interoperability with allied forces and an equal voice in high-level decisions affecting Euro-Atlantic security and stability.

To contribute the Canadian share of the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) - a common-funded program that finances the capital costs for the provision of physical and information technology infrastructure that enables NATO to:

• Conduct/sustain Alliance operations and missions;
• Provide deployable forces;
• Provide logistic support and sustainment capabilities for deploying forces;
• Provide training/exercise/education in support of operations and deployable forces;
• Provide Research and Development for NATO transformation;
• Provide NATO-wide C3 capabilities;
• Maintain NATO Command Structure;
• Develop Cooperation initiatives; and
• Maintain nuclear deterrent posture.

NSIP continued to fund capital investments that meet NATO’s essential purpose, which is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means in accordance with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The benefits of Canada’s investment in NATO include access to strategic information, intelligence, capabilities, interoperability with allied forces and an equal voice in high-level decisions affecting Euro-Atlantic security and stability. It also includes a potential return on some of Canada’s eligible infrastructure projects in support of NATO operations.

The International Board of Auditors for NATO (IBAN), which is an independent entity reporting directly to the North Atlantic Council (NAC), audits projects once they are completed and submitted for audit by the host nations.

The IBAN conducts financial audits on closed NSIP projects when they are presented by the host nation and has conducted performance audits on NSIP governance and capability delivery. Designated committees in NATO, where Canada is well represented, analyzed all the IBAN reports and made recommendations to the relevant NATO entities to comply with IBAN findings.

There is currently a new governance model for common-funded capability delivery being developed to address problems identified in previous audits of NSIP governance and capability delivery.

The objectives of the Contribution Program are as follows:

• Support basic and applied research, analysis and knowledge transfer that can inform the development of military concepts and doctrine necessary to implement the VP.
• Mobilize, engage and support national academia and non-government organizations in advancing the adoption and implementation of the VP, with the aim of establishing the VP as a set of international norms.
• Encourage, enhance, sustain and support collaborations between government, national academia and non-government organizations to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers and ensuring UN peacekeepers are held accountable for meeting the highest standards of conduct.

• The 2020 Knowledge for Prevention Symposium featured five days of discussions focused on the Vancouver Principles and included high-level speakers from academia, State partners, international non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. Over 480 participants from a variety of sectors, fields of study and practice, and geographic regions participated, thus helping to facilitate interaction between the DND/CAF, other practitioners and the expert community working in the area of children affected by armed conflict.
• The 2020-21 edition of the annually published academic peer-reviewed journal “Allons-y” focused on gender and the implementation of the Vancouver Principles. The volume features four articles written by academics and child protection experts who explore the impacts of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the complexities of gender, and the possibilities for Vancouver Principle 11: Contributions of Women, and supplemented the research being conducted by DND/CAF.
• The 2020-21 Lessons Learned report focused on prevention-oriented security sector training in order to inform continued development of military concepts and doctrine necessary to the implementation of the Vancouver Principles. A Lessons Learned Framework was designed to capture observations and lessons from experienced Dallaire Institute trainers based on their experiences teaching about the prevention of the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.

• 3.2 The health and well-being of the Defence Team is well supported
• 3.4 Military families are supported and resilient

CASARA has continued to provide effective and efficient aeronautical support and resources to Joint Rescue Coordination Centres (JRCCs) coordinating Search and Rescue (SAR) missions and influencing SAR outcomes.

CASARA has independently recruited, organized, administered and trained its civilian membership and engaged private sector air operators to continue providing capable and reliable air search resources.

As a result of COVID-19, training halted for personnel safety. Live training exercises resumed as of July 2020. CASARA has been able to conduct 1,595 SAR training events, live and virtual, since April 2020 and continues to respond to active SAR cases.

Total CASARA-assisted and/or CASARA-led taskings in 2020-21: 161

•  
  • 99 aircraft taskings;
  • 62 ground vehicle taskings;
  • 15 cases where aircraft or people were missing / in distress; and
  • 10 lives saved.

Responded to the need for relevant and timely advice from defence and security experts:

• 62 grants and a total of $2,045,961 in funding were awarded to experts affiliated with leading academic institutions and think tanks;
• 100% of the reports received from grant recipients met MINDS’ requirements;
• MINDS supported its existing three collaborative networks, and added three new networks to its roster, via six contribution agreements (a total of $1,500,000); and
• All networks regularly shared research directly with the Defence Team via policy briefs, webinars and direct engagement with stakeholders, including a series of targeted briefs related to COVID-19.

Fostered the next generation of experts through the Young MINDS grants which are open to undergraduate students, and through the efforts of collaborative networks which are required to engage students, young and new scholars in activities, including where the focus is scholar development.

• 10% of the total number of grants issued in 2020-21 were awarded to Young MINDS; and 
• All six MINDS networks involved graduate students as research assistants and in administrative roles. They engaged in their own projects related to the networks’ goals, and in some cases, published academic articles, governmental reports or other policy-relevant material. Two networks organized student seminars.

A successful six-month fellowship with the NATO Defence College was funded for a defence expert to study Canada’s key defence issues with NATO allies.

Contributed to public understanding on defence/security issues.

• Over 80% of the grants awarded resulted in online events and research accessible to the public.

100% of the collaborative networks’ events and research is open to the public. All six networks regularly publish research and advertise 100% of MINDS-funded events on their respective websites and social media accounts.

The MINDS team is regularly and closely engaged with applicants and recipients of its grants and contributions funding.

The MINDS team responded to numerous questions via email and conducted virtual meetings with both grant and contribution applicants to provide support on the application process. Successful applicants received ongoing support from the MINDS team on both administrative and substantive matters. In addition, a total of 27 debriefs were provided to unsuccessful applicants.

With respect to contribution recipients, each is assigned a liaison on the MINDS team to facilitate integration with Defence Team stakeholders. Three virtual kick-off events were held for new networks with the Defence Team, and quarterly meetings with all network directors were established to enhance collaboration among MINDS networks and identify opportunities for MINDS to better support its networks.

Finally, targeted outreach was conducted with the francophone community through a combination of email and virtual information sessions to help increase awareness of the program within the francophone defence and security expert community.

Canada’s contributions to NATO’s Other Activities help pay for projects done by or for NATO, and for which only a few nations decide to contribute to.

These funds will help pay for:

• NATO’s Centres of Excellence, like the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence;
• NATO’s Naval Forces Sensor and Weapons Accuracy Check Sites (FORACS); and
• NATO’s Rapidly Deployable Corps Headquarters.

Canada’s financial contributions to NATO’s Other Activities continue to ensure Canadian security and provide leverage and influence within the multi-national body.

The contributions further served to help protect and strengthen the freedom and security of Alliance members.

The benefits of Canada’s investment in NATO included access to strategic information, intelligence, capabilities, interoperability with allied forces and an equal voice in high-level decisions affecting Euro-Atlantic security and stability.