RADARSAT Constellation Mission Project (Transfer from Canadian Space Agency)
Canada’s three RADARSAT Constellation Mission satellites support Canadian Armed Forces’ global operations, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
These satellites are also critical to monitoring Canada’s Arctic, and navigable sea routes and coastal areas.
From 2013 until the launch of the satellites in 2019, National Defence provided funds to the Canadian Space Agency to assist in the development and launch of these three satellites.
In these Estimates, the Canadian Space Agency is transferring $23.4 million of unused funds back to National Defence.
Key Facts
National Defence owns and operates the Automatic Identification System (AIS) payloads, which are key components to provide Maritime Domain Awareness.
RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM): Provides a “big picture” overview of Canada’s vast land mass, especially the Arctic, and navigable sea routes and coastal areas, as well as global surveillance for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Project lifespan: This Project has a seven year design life, and is expected to be operational until the end of 2026.
RADARSAT Constellation Mission data: This important asset is used by over a dozen federal departments to deliver services to Canadians.
National Defence delivered and operates the Polar Epsilon 2 ground stations to process Maritime Domain Awareness data from RCM.
The Royal Canadian Air Force is the functional authority for National Defence’s space program, which is organized around four main lines of operation:
Surveillance of space (Space Domain Awareness);
Surveillance from space (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance);
Positioning, navigation, and timing (Global Positioning System); and,
Satellite communications.
Earth Observation Services Continuity Initiative Concept Studies (Transfer to the Canadian Space Agency)
Space capabilities are critical to Canada’s sovereignty, economy, and Canadian Armed Forces operations and activities.
That is why we continue to make major investments in our space-based capabilities.
In these Estimates, National Defence seeks to transfer $1.0 million to the Canadian Space Agency to support the “Earth Observation Services Continuity Initiative”.
This initiative will identify options for the successor of Canada’s RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which provides critical data to the Government.
This funding transfer will ensure that Government programs that rely on RADARSAT Constellation Mission data continue without interruption.
Key Facts
Project lifespan: Once complete, the Earth Observation Continuity Initiative is anticipated to have a lifespan from 2026 to 2041.
RADARSAT Constellation Mission data: This important asset is used by over a dozen federal departments to deliver services to Canadians.
The RADARSAT Constellation Mission has a seven year design life, and is expected to be operational until the end of 2026.
Canadian Safety and Security Program (Transfer to Various Organizations)
The Canadian Safety and Security Program fosters innovative science and technology advancements at federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal levels of government that contribute to the safety and security of Canadians.
The program works domestically and internationally with government, industry, and academia to advance safety and security capabilities.
It is a federally-funded program led by Defence Research and Development Canada, in partnership with Public Safety Canada.
In these Estimates, National Defence is transferring $3.0 million to other government departments who participate in this program.
These funds will support various projects across the federal government, including uncrewed ground vehicle systems, and immersive virtual reality for first responder training.
This transfer of funds supports National Defence’s commitment to working with a variety of partners to find innovative solutions to security challenges.
Key Facts
This transfer supports 14 strategic technology acquisitions that enhance federal science and technology capabilities for public safety and security.
National Defence is transferring funds to 8 Other Government Departments:
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited: $405,000;
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: $1,060,000;
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: $87,000;
Canadian Security Intelligence Service: $350,000;
Health Canada: $812,000;
National Research Council Canada: $168,500;
Natural Resources Canada: $60,000; and,
Public Health Agency of Canada: $60,000.
Research at the Royal Military College of Canada (Transfer from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)
National Defence works closely with federal research funding agencies to support university-based research related to defence and security.
In these Estimates, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council seeks to transfer $810,219 to National Defence to support research at the Royal Military College.
These funds will enable the Royal Military College to conduct research on defence and security related issues.
It will also ease the burden of costs associated in conducting this research by supporting research facilities, protecting IP, and managing the Royal Military College’s research enterprise.
Key Facts
National Defence receives this transfer annually, however the amount can vary each year.
The Research Support Fund: Serves to ease the burden of indirect costs associated with research at the Royal Military College in five expenditure areas:
Maintaining research facilities;
Ensuring adequate research resources;
Facilitating the management and administration of the institution’s research enterprise;
Ensuring regulatory requirements and accreditation; and,
Protecting intellectual property.
Canada Research Chairs at the Royal Military College of Canada (Transfer from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)
The Canada Research Chairs program is administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and it supports university-based research in a variety of fields.
In these Estimates, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council seek to transfer $270,000 to National Defence in support of this program.
National Defence will use this funding to support Royal Military College Canada Research Chairs with their approved research on innovative technology and issues of pressing interest to the defence community, given recent international events:
Innovations in electromagnetics and the future of communications; and,
Archival research on how military coalitions function in war and peace.
This funding will help ensure that National Defence’s work continues to be informed by research and scientific advancements in the fields of defence and national security.
Key Facts
National Defence receives this transfer annually, however the amount can vary each year.
Funding for the Research Chairs is as follows:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council: $140,000
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: $130,000
The Royal Military College of Canada holds 2 Research Chairs in Fiscal Year 2021-22:
Dr. Yahia Antar: Electromagnetic Engineering (NSERC)
Research: Exploring innovations in microwave and millimeter wave antennas, components and circuits for communication purposes.
Dr. Douglas Delaney: War Studies (SSHRC)
Research: How military coalitions function in war and peace, which promises to yield important findings that could inform Canada’s future coalition operations.
Of the total 2,285 Chairs, 2,148 are regular allocations, distributed by area of research as follows:
798 Chairs (40.3%) Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council;
716 Chairs (36.1%) Canadian Institutes of Health Research; and,
467 Chairs (23.6%) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Joint Research Grant Projects (Transfer to Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)
National Defence works closely with federal research funding agencies to support university-based research related to defence and security.
In these Estimates, National Defence seeks to transfer $287,310 to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
These funds will support multiple projects at Canadian universities on a variety of research related to:
Personnel, including recruitment and selection;
Readiness, including training and development;
Diversity and culture in the workplace; and,
Operational effectiveness.
These grants ensure that National Defence continues to leverage research in areas related to the Defence Team’s core priorities.
Key Facts
Canadian universities that will receive funding in support of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council initiatives in Fiscal Year 2021-22: McGill University, St. Francis Xavier University, Trent University, Queen’s University, University of Waterloo, University of Winnipeg, and Université de Montréal.
National Defence is currently interested in research proposals focusing on:
Enabling sustained and effective military organizational culture change;
Developing trust in diverse organizational teams and in cross-cultural settings; and,
Developing trust in autonomous intelligent systems.
Projects for Fiscal Year 2021-22: 21 (5 new and 16 ongoing). The five new projects approved for funding in fiscal year 2021-22 are:
Why do emotions spread quickly through social networks? Mechanisms that underlie the 'viral' spread of emotional content (McGill University);
Lessons Learned or "Fantasy Documents?": Lessons Management, Disasters, Emergencies, and Canada's North (St-Francis-Xavier University/Trent University);
No Women, No Peace? Gender Advocacy and Regional Security (Queen’s University);
National Security in Canada: a feminist intersectional approach (University of Waterloo/University of Winnipeg); and,
Gender, Sustainable Peace and Natural Resource Management: Logics, networks and power in complex peacebuilding interventions (Université de Montréal)
Partnership Grants Projects – Alliance Grants Program (Transfer to Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council)
National Defence works closely with federal research funding agencies to support university-based research related to defence and security.
In these Estimates, National Defence seeks to transfer $1.2 million to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
These funds will support leading-edge academic research to better protect our Canadian Armed Forces personnel and meet future requirements.
This important research will be conducted in universities across Canada, including in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.
These grants ensure that National Defence, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and partners remain informed by research in defence and national security.
Key Facts
Funding: Will support leading-edge academic research in universities, such as:
Research in the development of an innovation and knowledge-based economy;
Capitalizing on the complementary research and development capacity existing in the universities and in National Defence;
Training and developing highly qualified personnel in priority areas consistent with the future human resource requirements in the public or private sectors; and,
Accelerating the rate of discovery, and enhancing Defence Research and Development Canada’s relationship with the Canadian academic community.
Projects for Fiscal Year 2021-22: 14 (4 new and 10 ongoing). The four new projects approved for funding in fiscal year 2021-22 are:
Development of Advanced Add-On Vehicle Armour (University of Alberta);
Towards an advanced head surrogate for blunt impact assessment in defence related injuries (University of Alberta);
Linking Head Kinematics and Multi-Model Imaging using a Finite Element Head Model to Assess Mild traumatic brain injury Risk Mitigation (University of Waterloo).
March 2021: National Defence and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council signed an extension to the MOU for one year and negotiated a renewal of the MOU for another 5 years starting April 1, 2023.
March 2020: National Defence and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council amended the MOU that allows the participation of National Defence in the Alliance Grants Program, which replaces the National Defence-Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Research Partnerships Grants.
The Alliance Grants Program is a joint initiative between National Defence and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
Supports unclassified university-based research dedicated to the development of non-weapon specific technologies with dual-use applications in defence and security target areas.
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program (Funding)
The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program – or IDEaS – was announced as part of the Strong, Secure, Engaged defence policy and commits $1.6 billion to advancing innovations for defence and security over a 20 year period.
In these Estimates, National Defence is requesting access to $10.0 million in reprofiled funds from the previous fiscal year to support the program.
This re-profile is required to meet departmental policy objectives in Strong, Secure, Engaged to conduct leading-edge research and development in areas critical to meet evolving defence and security needs, while generating economic benefits for Canada.
For example, these funds will support projects focused on 5G networks, wireless communications, artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
The ongoing work conducted through the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program will ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces continues to benefit from the latest research.
Key Facts
IDEaS: This program was established in order to optimize investments in innovations for defence and security challenges by leveraging the capabilities housed in non-federal organizations including industry and academia.
Since April 2018: IDEaS has launched 65 challenges which has resulted in more than 540 contracts being awarded.
Some of these innovations have now reached an advanced stage and are in the process of being transferred to Canadian Armed Forces personnel in order to enhance their existing capabilities to deliver on their missions. Some examples of current projects include:
Worth a thousand sources: A fused picture for continental surveillance;
We Sea You: Digital tracking and accounting on navy vessels;
Wireless is where it’s at: Secure and Seamless Wireless Network Onboard Ships;
High Bandwidth, Low Profile: Next generation point-to-point communication solutions for the field;
Less GHGs on the Seas: Practical solutions to measure and record energy consumption;
Essential Deliveries: Getting vital supplies to troops using autonomous vehicles;
Knot vulnerable: Locking down cybersecurity on naval vessels;
Making Data Make Sense: Real-time data analysis for rapid decision making; and,
Armour Up! Modular lightweight armour for land vehicles.
Lapsed Funding: This funding request stems from lapsed funding in fiscal year 2020-21, whereby $20 million in funding is being requested to be reprofiled over the next two fiscal years ($10 million in each of 2021-22 and 2022-23).
The lapsed funding was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public health measures across the country impacted the ability for research and development and innovation suppliers to deliver projects in planned timeframes.
Halifax International Security Forum (Transfer to Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
The Halifax International Security Forum has established itself as one of North America’s leading Forums on global security issues.
In these Estimates, National Defence is transferring $3.1 million to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to support the delivery of the 2021 Forum.
In fact, since 2009, National Defence has annually transferred funds to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to support the delivery of the Forum.
The Forum provides an invaluable opportunity for Canada to shape discussions on international security and defence issues.
We continue to work with our partners to ensure that this Forum yields value to decision-makers and Canadians.
Key Facts
November 19 to 21, 2021: The Forum was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The forum hosted:
More than 300 defence and security leaders.
Over 80 countries, including senior government and military officials, policymakers, opinion leaders, academics, and members of the business community from like-minded nations.
