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.

In fiscal year 2021-22, the easing and lifting of public health measures and travel restrictions related to COVID-19 enabled Directorate of Military Training and Cooperation (DMTC) to gradually resume on-site MTCP training both in Canada and in all Outside of Canada (OUTCAN) regions, thus contributing to achieving the program’s capacity building and defence diplomacy objectives.

The contribution program has achieved:

• An increased capacity of Ukraine government entities to collectively defend against aggression by other state and non-state actors; and
• Increased timeliness in sourcing suitable lethal and/or non-lethal equipment for the purpose of assisting the Government of Ukraine.

In 2021-22, IDEaS invited Canadian Innovators to apply to the newest Innovation Networks challenge: Faster, Stronger, More Secure: Advancing 5G Capabilities and Concepts for Defence and Security. Through this process, eight proposals were provisionally selected for contribution funding of up to $1.5M over three years. In addition, the Round 3 winners of the Pop Up City: Integrating Energy, Water, and Waste Management Systems for Deployed Camps Contest were announced in January 2022. These winners received up to $1.5M contribution agreements to build their prototypes. Finally, the IDEaS team co-hosted an Innovation Challenge for the NATO Innovation Hub called the Invisible Threat: Tools for countering Cognitive Warfare. This event opened to non-traditional innovators from across all 30 NATO member nations and the top three finalists were selected in November 2021.

For the two IDEaS elements that utilize Vote 10 funding, the program continued with established multi-year projects. Additionally, three new agreements were signed related to work for the Pop-up City Contest (relocation of temporary camps), and the program engaged with applicants in the area of 5G networks, which is a program challenge launched through the Innovation Networks element. Agreements for the 5G challenge are expected to be signed in 2022.

DND’s share of common funding contributions help pay for NATO military resources that benefit all Allies and NATO partners.

DND’s NATO Military Budget contributions support the operating and maintenance costs of NATO’s military headquarters and activities, including:

• International Military Staff;
• NATO’s Command Structure, made up of bases and facilities across Europe and in the United States;
• NATO’s key air fleets: NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), and Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS); and
• NATO operations and missions: including Canadian Armed Forces deployments under Operations IMPACT (NATO Mission Iraq), KOBOLD and REASSURANCE.

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.

DND’s share of common funding contributions help pay for NATO military resources that benefit all Allies and NATO partners.

DND’s NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) contributions support the capital costs for major infrastructure improvements, including:

• Airfield, fuel systems and harbor facilities to support deployed forces;
• Air command and control systems;
• Automated information systems;
• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

NSIP continued to fund capital investments that meet NATO’s essential purpose to safeguard the freedom and security of all its 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 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) 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.

CASARA has continued to provide effective and efficient aeronautical support and resources to Joint Rescue Coordination Centres coordinating 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 on-going COVID-19 restrictions, training was temporarily halted for personnel safety at various times throughout the course of fiscal year 2021-22. CASARA has been able to conduct numerous training events, live and virtual, since April 2021 and continues to respond to active SAR cases.

Total CASARA-assisted and/or CASARA-led tasks in 2021-22: 114

• 66 aircraft tasks;
• 48 ground vehicle tasks.

The City of North Bay retained a consultant in the Fall of 2021. They developed work plans and initiated engagement with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

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

In fiscal year 2021-22, the Sexual Assault Centre Contribution Program, managed by the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC) maintained its existing eight Sexual Assault Support Centres across Canada, and established one new agreement, for a total number of nine agreements to date. Through the funding provided by these agreements, these centres were able to provide crucial services to survivors in the wider CAF community so that they are better able to cope with the effects of sexual assault. Such programs and services include:

• Promotion of crisis management;
• Individual and group counselling;
• Support groups for people who have experienced sexual violence;
• Specialized services to female, male and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) victims;
• Community outreach and education; and
• Advocacy to assist victims in the areas of healing, trauma, victim support, health care, employment, criminal justice system, and legal rights and responsibilities.

The Cadet Leagues have participated in the mutually agreed consultative framework through attendance and participation in national forums, such as the National Cadet Council, regional forums, such as the Regional Cadet Advisory Groups, and community level forums, such as the Community Coordination Committees.

MINDS enables opportunities for collaboration between the Defence Team and the external defence and security expert community through a program that:

• Responds to the need for relevant and timely advice from defence and security experts;
• Fosters the next generation of experts and scholars; and
• Contributes to Canadians understanding of defence and security issues.

The program responded to the need for relevant and timely advice from defence and security experts through:

• Grant funding to experts affiliated with leading academic institutions, private sector partners and to students; and
• Supporting its existing six collaborative networks and adding three new networks to its roster.

The program fostered the next generation of experts through the Young MINDS Grants which are open to undergraduate students, young and new scholars:

• 7% of the total number of grants issued in 2021-22 were awarded to Young MINDS; and
• MINDS supported students, young and new scholars through the award of fellowships and scholarships.

The program contributed to public understanding on defence/security issues:

• 100% of projects funded in 2021-22 resulted in online events or research accessible to the public;
• 71.4% of funded projects have plans to disseminate information/results of projects on social media; and
• 100% of the collaborative networks’ events and research is open to the public.

The MINDS team is regularly engaged with applicants and recipients of its grant and contributions funding. The MINDS team responded to questions to provide support on the application process. With respect to contribution recipients, each is assigned a liaison on the MINDS team to facilitate integration with Defence Team stakeholders.

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);
• NATO’s Rapidly Deployable Corps Headquarters;
• NATO Production and Logistics Organizations (NPLOs), such as the NATO Support and Procurement Organization (NSPO) and NATO Communications and Information Organization (NCIO).

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.

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 VPCP;
• 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 VPCP as a set of international norms; and
• 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 2021 Knowledge for Prevention Symposium (K4P) featured three days of discussions focused on the Vancouver Principles and included over 42 professionals from academia, government, and civil society organizations. Discussions focused on ways to enhance collective understanding of prioritizing children within early warning systems, and including security sector approaches to early warning, gender and early warning, meaningful community engagement, and regional approaches and best practices;
• The 2021-22 edition of the annually published academic peer-reviewed journal Allons-y was a reflection piece that focused on successes, lessons learned, and challenges of the past twenty-five years of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Agenda to help inform implementation of the Vancouver Principles globally; and
• The 2021-22 lessons learned report focused on identifying early warning indicators for the recruitment and use of children in armed violence.