Results at a glance

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine demonstrated the importance and relevance of bilateral and multinational security and stability frameworks, primarily through our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commitments. The Government of Canada, together with allies and partners, will continue to defend the rules-based international order, as well as globally accepted principles of lawful military conduct and humanitarian principles.

DND/CAF’s support to Ukraine impacted several areas in the department’s consolidated financial statements. Purchases related to the operations in Ukraine resulted in an increase to accounts payable and the contributions have decreased our existing inventory. In addition, there has been an increase in expenses related to the Operations core responsibility due to the transfer of assets to Ukraine as well as a variance between our planned and actual expenses in this core responsibility as these expenses were not included in the department’s planned results.

The increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters continued to strain the limited resources of Indigenous, Territorial, and Provincial governments. This led to an increase in requests for federal assistance to augment communities’ limited emergency management resources. The CAF continued to support Canadians as a force of last resort while also meeting the increasing demands conducting international engagements and operations.

Maintaining this tempo was not easy – the growing demands for CAF responses challenged the already unstable foundation of operational readiness given personnel shortfalls, equipment deficiencies, and insufficient sustainment including critical stores of ammunition. Resolving this situation will require strengthening the institutional foundations of readiness that are critical to meeting Canada’s domestic and global defence and security objectives. This includes pursuing greater agility in acquiring critical capabilities and the supporting materiel required to maintain them at a sufficient state of readiness, updating outdated recruitment, retention, personnel management, and administrative processes to ensure we can reverse the decline in personnel numbers, and better harnessing our institutional capacity towards the prioritized delivery of the raison d’être of Defence – readiness for operations.

To address these challenges, in FY 2022-23, the Department of National Defence (DND)/CAF focused on the following four areas:

1. Ensure Canada is Strong at Home, Secure in North America, and Engaged in the World

The CAF continued to fulfill its Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE): Canada's Defence Policy core missions:

Detect, deter and defend against threats to or attacks on Canada;
Detect, deter and defend against threats to or attacks on North America in partnership with the United States, including through NORAD;
Lead and/or contribute forces to NATO and coalition efforts to deter and defeat adversaries, including terrorists, to support global stability;
Lead and/or contribute to international peace operations and stabilization missions with the United Nations, NATO and other multilateral partners;
Engage in capacity building to support the security of other nations and their ability to contribute to security abroad;
Providing assistance to civil authorities/law enforcement including counter-terrorism, in support of national security and the security of Canadians abroad;
Provide assistance to civil authorities and non-governmental partners in responding to international and domestic disasters or major emergencies; and
Conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

Specifically, DND/CAF continued to support CAF and NATO deterrence and assurance measures through its standing commitments and its leadership role for the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia. This included the development of options for the NATO force expansion to a Brigade in Latvia.

The growing influence and reach of China contributed to the Government of Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy , that ensures Canada remains positioned as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

2. Reconstitute the CAF for the Future

During the period from March 2020 to July 2022, the CAF experienced a reduction in size, with the Regular Force decreasing by 4100 and the Primary Reserve by 950. Recruiting efforts, which were already challenged before the pandemic, were further limited, resulting in about one-third of the normal intake due to pandemic-imposed restrictions.

To properly address the challenges impacting the strength and readiness of the CAF, the CAF Reconstitution Directive was issued in October 2022, to outline the efforts required to ensure the CAF’s ability to deliver strategic effects directed by the Government of Canada now and into the future. CAF Reconstitution focuses on three goals:

Grow the CAF - rebuilding strength while continuing to transform culture and emphasize the physical and mental well-being of its members;
Recalibrate Operations and Commitments - reviewing operations and plans to ensure the maintenance of operational excellence in both modern and future settings; and
Modernize Military Personnel Management System - modernizing capabilities and adapt our structure necessary to address the evolving character of conflict and operations.

Over the past year, the CAF has increased recruiting capacity, decreased processing times, decreased basic training to 8 weeks , expanded the applicant pool to permanent residents, created the Naval Experience Program, released the Total Health and Wellness, Retention and other strategies. It has also published the CAF Offer , which identifies the comprehensive suite of policies and programs that are designed to motivate, engage and inspire members and recognize the unique contributions they make to the defence and security of Canada.

3. Ensuring a Safe and Inclusive Workplace

Every member of the Defence Team is entitled to work in an environment of mutual respect, dignity and inclusion, where they can contribute and achieve their full potential. Creating a safe and inclusive workplace in DND/CAF remained essential to the CAF’s operational success. DND/CAF ensures its organization moves to reflect the diversity of Canada, and a work environment where people are valued for their unique capabilities and encouraged to be their authentic selves.

This past year, there were significant results achieved in transforming culture. On April 25, 2022, the Minister accepted the final report of the Minister’s Advisory Panel on systemic Racism and Discrimination, which provided recommendations on how the DND and CAF can eliminate systems barriers and discriminatory behaviours to enable inclusivity. The event was followed by an internal Raise Your Voice all-staff online and in-person forum, where the Minister and members of the Advisory Panel shared on their journey and conveyed some of the insights they learned. An online Anti-racism toolkit was also recently launched, providing guides, tip sheets and activities to help stimulate ongoing dialogue among Defence Team members and accelerate culture change within the DND and CAF.

On May 30, 2022, the Minister welcomed all 48 recommendations from former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour, of the review of policies, procedures, programs, practices, and culture within the CAF/DND, which is entitled the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR). On October 24, 2022, the Minister appointed Jocelyne Therrien as the External Monitor to oversee DND/CAF efforts to address misconduct and help monitor the implementation of the IECR recommendations. In December, the Minister’s Report to parliament on Culture Change Reforms in response to former Supreme Court Justice Arbour’s recommendations was presented to Parliament, providing a path forward in respect of all 48 recommendations.

The Defence Team Conduct and Culture Consultation Summary Report, was published in November 2022, summarizing the results of the extensive Defence Team culture consultations with military members and public service employees. In addition to the 9,000 Defence Team members that were engaged prior to April 2022, an additional 4 000 members and employees were consulted in 2022-23, to ensure that as many Defence Team members as possible were heard, where they could share their experiences and ideas.

Over the past year, the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC), in addition to providing comprehensive, accessible and integrated support, and renewed focus on the prevention of military sexual misconduct, also delivered on a number of activities to ensure that the health and well-being being of the DT is well supported. It launched the new Community Support for Sexual Misconduct Survivors Grant Program, expanded its geographic reach, implemented a Peer Support Program model, and completed the inaugural phase of the Restorative Engagement Program.

4. Modernizing Defence Capabilities

The Department of National Defence continued to advance the vision set out in SSE and enhance defence capabilities to anticipate and respond to threats at home and abroad.

The Department of National Defence developed and began implementing the vision for continental defence as outlined in SSE and specified in the June 2022 NORAD Modernization announcement, by announcing an investment of $38.6 billion on an accrual basis over 20 years to modernize Canada’s NORAD capabilities. In close collaboration with the United States and key domestic partners, DND/CAF, began preliminary implementation of NORAD modernization. In addition, and in alignment with the 2019 Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, DND/CAF continued efforts to enhance capabilities, mobility, and reach in the North, and in collaboration with domestic and international partners.

As part of Canada’s NORAD Modernization announcement, the Government of Canada also announced its commitment to invest $4.23 billion on an accrual basis for continuously evolving research and development solutions in support of continental defence. These investments will directly support NORAD modernization capabilities, including enhanced surveillance of Canada’s northern approaches in all domains, improved command control and communications, including in the North, and improved defeat mechanisms for modern and developing threats, as well as other agile capabilities to address emerging challenges in continental defence.

The implementation of SSE continues to streamline defence procurement, thus improving timely acquisition of much needed military capabilities. Continued robust defence procurement will contribute to Canada’s plan for a strong economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department strives to provide the CAF with the modern capabilities they need to succeed in a complex and constantly evolving world. The CAF must be ready and able to deliver across a spectrum of operations – from domestic humanitarian assistance and disaster response, to counter-terrorism and combat operations.

The Defence Team continued to develop and integrate cyber capabilities to counter the evolving threat posed by malicious cyber actors, including state and state-sponsored actors. DND/CAF continue to grow the CAF Cyber Force by recruiting, enabling new Cyber Operators, and supporting the employment of reservists with specialized skill sets. DND/CAF continued to work with the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) to develop capabilities and capacity for conducting offensive cyber operations to detect, deter and defend against threats to Canada and in support of CAF operations.

For more information about DND and the CAF’s results achieved, see the “Results: what we achieved” section of this report.

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Date modified:: 2023-12-19

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