Analysis of trends in spending and human resources

Actual expenditures

Departmental spending trend graph

The following graph presents planned (voted and statutory) spending over time.

Departmental spending trend graph
Description of Figure: Departmental Spending Trend Graph

This bar graph depicts Defence's financial spending trend starting with fiscal year 2018-19.

On the Y-axis are dollars ranging from 0 to 25,000,000,000. On the X-axis is Fiscal Year 2018-19 through 2023-24.

Statutory Financial Spending Trend is:

  • $1,596,143,119 in 2018-19;
  • $1,649,914,487 in 2019-20;
  • $4,353,110,032 in 2020-21;
  • $1,479,426,075 in 2021-22;
  • $1,278,634,689 in 2022-23; and
  • $1,280,778,725 in 2023-24.

Voted Financial Spending Trend is:

  • $20,019,798,793 in 2018-19;
  • $21,189,523,850 in 2019-20;
  • $22,473,927,805 in 2020-21;
  • $22,815,779,092 in 2021-22;
  • $22,848,520,413 in 2022-23; and
  • $22,469,829,706 in 2023-24.

Total Financial Spending Trend is:

  • $21,615,941,912 in 2018-19;
  • $22,839,438,337 in 2019-20;
  • $26,827,037,837 in 2020-21;
  • $24,295,205,167 in 2021-22;
  • $24,127,155,102 in 2022-23; and
  • $23,750,608,431 in 2023-24.

Budgetary performance summary for Core Responsibilities and Internal Services (dollars)

Core Responsibilities and Internal Services 2020–21 Main Estimates 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending 2022–23 Planned spending 2020–21 Total authorities available for use 2018–19 Actual spending (authorities used) 2019–20 Actual spending (authorities used) 2020–21 Actual spending (authorities used)
Operations 1,075,628,685 1,080,817,402 684,095,922 688,988,747 1,342,474,789 1,424,919,741 1,044,514,772 1,028,857,684
Ready Forces 9,716,036,927 9,760,714,328 9,972,852,765 10,096,532,908 11,722,566,619 9,506,982,585 9,875,229,209 11,719,160,120
Defence Team 9,416,850,794 3,444,253,339 3,554,626,936 3,591,485,901 4,102,372,061 2,779,583,406 3,365,827,143 4,057,640,230
Future Force Design 840,491,721 845,220,905 768,019,319 779,337,759 881,591,666 845,573,026 758,767,329 836,173,606
Procurement of Capabilities 3,907,432,104 3,910,791,611 4,741,325,826 4,310,164,815 4,701,330,194 3,069,157,738 3,298,055,560 4,119,915,713
Sustainable Bases, Information Technology Systems and Infrastructure 3,665,573,962 3,680,697,534 3,829,653,614 3,899,491,700 4,165,436,326 3,219,172,782 3,651,639,001 4,185,750,629
Subtotal 22,622,014,193 22,722,495,119 23,550,574,382 23,366,001,830 26,915,771,655 20,845,389,278 21,994,033,014 25,947,497,982
Internal Services 695,921,525 699,552,288 744,630,785 761,153,272 1,137,790,770 770,552,634 845,405,323 879,539,855
Total 23,317,935,718 23,422,047,407 24,295,205,167 24,127,155,102 28,053,562,425 21,615,941,912 22,839,438,337 26,827,037,837

Source: Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Group / Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance) / Chief Financial Officer Group

Notes:

  1. Due to rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.
  2. Where the actual spending amount is higher than the total authorities, this does not represent an over-expenditure of Parliamentary authorities. Parliamentary authorities are allocated by vote and not by core responsibility and program.
  3. Significant variances in financial resources are detailed at the core responsibility and program level in the “Supporting information on the program inventory” section of the document. Explanations are provided when the variance is at least 100M or when the difference between the actual and the planned amount is 100%. 

Budgetary actual gross spending summary (dollars)

Core Responsibilities and Internal Services 2020–21
Actual gross spending
2020–21
Actual revenues netted against expenditures
2020–21
Actual net spending (authorities used)
Operations 1,028,948,799 91,115 1,028,857,684
Ready Forces 11,871,664,331 152,504,211 11,719,160,120
Defence Team 4,107,266,816 49,626,586 4,057,640,230
Future Force Design 836,474,895 301,289 836,173,606
Procurement of Capabilities 4,119,983,111 67,398 4,119,915,713
Sustainable Bases, Information Technology Systems and Infrastructure 4,337,795,219 152,044,590 4,185,750,629
Subtotal 26,302,133,171 354,635,189 25,947,497,982
Internal Services 892,123,932 12,584,077 879,539,855
Total 27,194,257,103 367,219,266 26,827,037,837

Notes: Due to rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Departmental spending trend graph
Description of Figure: Departmental Spending for 2020-21 by Core Responsibility (dollars)

This pie chart illustrates the Department of National Defence’s spending for Fiscal Year 2020-21, broken down by Core Responsibility.

The percentages allocated to each section, from largest to smallest, are:

  • 44%, $11,719,160,120 for Ready Forces;
  • 16%, $4,185,750,629 for Sustainable Bases, Information Technology Systems and Infrastructure;
  • 15%, $4,119,915,713 for Procurement of Capabilities;
  • 15%, $4,057,640,230 for Defence Team;
  • 4%, $1, 028,857,684 for Operations;
  • 3%, $879,539,855 for internal Services; and
  • 3%, $836,173,606 for Future Force Design.

Actual human resources

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the CAF’s ability to recruit and train personnel. As a result, the total CAF Regular Force strength declined from 67 500 personnel to 65 554 personnel in FY 2020–21

The department’s civilian population increased to 25 629 full-time equivalents (FTEs), up from 25 499 from FY 2019–20. This increased capacity helps ensure that we have the right people, in the right place, at the right time while respecting human resources and budget allocations. The department is in a state of growth and is focused on aligning civilian resources to fulfill renewed departmental priorities and supporting SSE. 

The following table shows actual, forecast and planned full-time equivalents (FTEs) for each Core Responsibility in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ departmental results framework and to Internal Services for the years relevant to the current planning year.

Human resources summary for Core Responsibilities and Internal Services

Core Responsibilities and Internal Services 2018–19
Actual full-time equivalents
2019–20
Actual full-time equivalents
2020–21
Planned full-time equivalents
2020–21
Actual full-time equivalents
2021–22
Planned full-time equivalents
2022–23
Planned full-time equivalents
Operations 4,884 2,647 2,860 2,156 3,078 3,113
Ready Forces 45,566 45,797 46,489 45,431 46,716 47,177
Defence Team 20,123 20,407 20,838 18,902 18,059 18,223
Future Force Design 2,421 1,930 2,223 1,883 2,086 2,072
Procurement of Capabilities 2,420 2,427 2,176 2,525 2,843 2,832
Sustainable Bases, Information Technology Systems and Infrastructure 13,209 15,974 14,843 15,944 16,493 16,519
Subtotal 88,623 89,182 89,429 86,841 89,275 89,936
Internal Services 3,347 4,070 5,293 4,342 4,470 4,456
Total 91,970 93,252 94,722 91,183 93,745 94,392

Total planned human resources – Reserve Force personnel

The Reserve Force is a valued and integrated component of the CAF. It is divided into four distinct sub-components: 

  • Primary Reserve Force;
  • Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service;
  • Canadian Rangers; and
  • Supplementary Reserve (strategic reserve). 

The Primary Reserve consists predominately of part-time professional CAF members, located throughout Canada, ready with reasonable notice to conduct or contribute to domestic and international operations to safeguard the defence and security of Canada. As articulated in Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy, there are 10 independent initiatives and two activities that centre on the Reserve Force. In FY 2020–21, the Central Coordination Authority was established within the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Group in order to review the existing fiscal framework of these initiatives and activities and to manage access to funding through a single conduit. The Central Coordination Authority will coordinate efforts across the CAF to meet the overall Defence Policy objective of maximizing the operational output of the Reserve Force (full-time capability through part-time service) through the conception, development, funding, sustainment and integration of unique enablers and/or combat multipliers (new or existing). 

The Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service completed an organizational restructure and will be maintained at the current approved target of 8 000 personnel

The Canadian Rangers are an integral CAF northern presence and regularly provide support to local, provincial or territorial authorities for ground search and rescue. They are Canada’s eyes, ears and guides across the country, particularly the sparsely settled northern, coastal and isolated areas of Canada. The Canadian Rangers, as a sub-component of the Reserve Force are separate from the Primary Reserve Force and are unique not only in the skills and expertise they bring to the CAF, but also in the locations in which they operate.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more requests for support from Canadian Rangers compared to previous years. In FY 2020–21, Canadian Rangers contributions included:

  • More than 1 100 days of Canadian Rangers supporting their communities as part of either Operations VECTOR or LENTUS;
  • More than 60 ground search and rescue; and
  • Nineteen patrols to inspect Northern warning system sites.

Canadian Rangers patrol growth was paused in FY 2020–21 in order to limit the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to isolated communities. This growth will resume when restrictions ease.

During FY 2020–21, Canadian Ranger development and enhancement were areas of focus as part of an overall ongoing review of the Canadian Ranger program. This review will seek to optimize the Rangers’ role while modernizing institutional support to operations. In January 2021, the Commander of the CA issued his planning guidance to start the implementation of the Canadian Ranger Enhancement initiative in the second quarter of FY 2021–22

The following table provides our total planned human resources for Reserve Force personnel for the next three FYs (2020–23).

  Planned 2020–21 Actual 2020–21 Difference (actual minus planned)
Primary Reserve 28,950 23,935 5,015
Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service 8,000 6,965 1,035
Canadian Rangers 5,640 5,249 391

Average paid strength (APS) is used to report the strength of the Primary Reserve in the Departmental Results Report as per the guidance and methodology for counting the Primary Reserve, dated 6 March 2017. The guidance and methodology indicate that APS will continue to be used to report to Government, while other metrics are used internally to report to CAF. To enhance accuracy in reporting Primary Reserve strength and capabilities, a harmonized methodology is deemed necessary. To do so, a one-CAF establishment model will set the appropriate framework required to increase efficiency and effectiveness in measuring the Primary Reserve output (trained effective strength) in support of Canada’s Defence Policy (SSE).

Expenditure by vote

For information on the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ organizational voted and statutory expenditures, consult the Public Accounts of Canada 2020-21Endnote 186.

Government of Canada spending and activities

Information on the alignment of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ spending with the Government of Canada’s spending and activities is available in the GC InfoBase Endnote 187.

Financial statements and financial statements highlights

Financial statements

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces’ financial statements (unaudited) for the year ended 31 March 2021 are available on the departmental websiteEndnote 188.

Financial statements highlights

Condensed Statement of Operations (unaudited) for the year ended 31 March 2021 (dollars)

Financial information 2020–21 Planned results 2020–21 Actual results 2019–20 Actual results Difference (2020–21 Actual results minus 2020–21 Planned results) Difference (2020–21 Actual results minus 2019–20 Actual results)
Total expenses 22,945,471 26,733,836 22,840,168 3,788,365 3,893,668
Total revenues 424,908 387,243 428,141 (37,665) (40,898)
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 22,520,563 26,346,593 22,412,027 3,826,030 3,934,566

Condensed Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) as of 31 March 2021 (dollars)

Financial information 2020–21 2019–20 Difference (2020–21 minus 2019–20)
Total net liabilities 7,208,305 6,219,658 988,647
Total net financial assets 3,664,528 3,263,733 400,795
Departmental net debt 3,543,777 2,955,925 587,852
Total non-financial assets 43,342,374 41,504,280 1,838,094
Departmental net financial position 39,798,597 38,548,355 1,250,242

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