Domestic and Continental Security

Operation LENTUS (Canada)

  • Through Operation LENTUS, the Canadian Armed Forces provides support to provincial and territorial authorities to respond quickly to natural disasters.
  • For example, earlier this month, National Defence deployed Canadian Rangers to Kashechewan, Attiwapiskat, and Fort Albany First Nations to support local efforts to evacuate in response to flooding.
  • Additionally, National Defence deployed over 700 Canadian Armed Forces members and 10 aircraft to British Columbia in November 2021 to conduct relief tasks in response to the flood and to support residents in the affected areas. 
  • In 2021, the Canadian Armed Forces also deployed over 450 members to Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia to provide critical support in fighting wildfires.
  • National Defence will continue to stand ready to respond to requests for assistance from provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments to support Canadians.

If pressed on how National Defence receives requests for assistance:

  • A request for federal assistance (RFA) is how a province or territory formally requests support from the federal government in their emergency response efforts.
  • It outlines the need for federal assistance to respond to an emergency when the jurisdiction needs additional resources.
  • Public Safety Canada, through the Government Operations Centre (GOC), coordinates the federal response to RFAs, which can include employment of the Canadian Armed Forces when appropriate.
  • Based on the RFA, the Canadian Armed Forces determines how many people to send, and the type of assets it can deploy.

Key Facts

2022 Deployments:

  • Kashechewan, Attiwapiskat, and Fort Albany First Nations: From May 7, 2022 to May 17, 2022, the Canadian Armed Forces deployed Canadian Rangers to support local efforts to evacuate in response to flooding which threatened communities in Northwestern Ontario.

2021 Deployments:

  • Nunavut: From October 13, 2021, to December 21, 2021, the Canadian Armed Forces deployed two Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units and 35 personnel to ensure clean water supply to the community.
    • On December 10, 2021, the Nunavut Chief Public Health Officer lifted the “Do Not Consume” order on the water supply in Iqaluit, and CAF redeployment of personnel and equipment began.
  • Newfoundland: Canadian Armed Forces provided support in response to heavy rain and high winds in Newfoundland on November 25, 2021.
  • British Columbia: Over 700 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to support flood relief efforts in British Columbia, which began on November 17, 2021 as a result of the atmospheric river events.
  • British Columbia fires: Over 300 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to assist British Columbia in fighting wildfires from July 5, 2021, to September 5, 2021.
  • Manitoba fires: Over 100 Canadian Armed Forces members assisted the Manitoba Wildlife Service from July 20 to August 24, 2021, by conducting Type-3 firefighting duties such as building fire lines and monitoring hotspots.
  • Northern Ontario fires: Canadian Armed Forces provided air transport and teams of Canadian Rangers from July 12, 2021, to September 12, 2021, to support evacuations resulting from fires in Northern Ontario.
  • Yukon flooding: Approximately 100 Canadian Armed Forces members assisted flood relief efforts in July 2021.

Arctic Surveillance and the North

  • Climate change, technological advancements, economic opportunities, geopolitical competition, and international interest are making the Arctic more strategically important than ever before.
  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores the importance of working closely with Arctic Allies to maintain the Arctic as a region of low-tension and global cooperation, and to ensure that the rules-based international order is preserved.
  • We are currently making major investments to enhance our Arctic capabilities, and reinforcing Canada’s sovereignty in the North.
  • For example, National Defence’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels are highly capable and versatile ships designed to operate in previously inaccessible northern waters.
  • We are also increasing our surveillance in the Arctic by improving our space capabilities, acquiring remotely piloted aircraft systems, and sustaining the North Warning System.
  • In fact, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, recently awarded a $592 million contract to Nasittuq Corporation, an Inuit owned company, for the operation and maintenance of the North Warning System.
  • In addition, our work with the United States to modernize NORAD, and strengthen domestic and continental defence more broadly, will further augment our northern capabilities.
  • The Canadian Armed Forces also continues to demonstrate its capabilities and project presence in the region through Operation NANOOK, its signature northern operation.
  • As we move forward, we will continue to engage and collaborate with our Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners to promote economic benefits and shared priorities for Northerners while advancing reconciliation.

If pressed on delays for the Nanisivik Naval Facility:

  • Infrastructure work in the Arctic poses many challenges, including complex logistics.
  • National Defence continues to advance this project as we navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • We are working to find solutions that could allow the Naval Facility to begin operations in 2023 while work is ongoing.

If pressed on delays or additional costs for the Inuvik Airport Runway Extension Project:

  • As part of our efforts to enhance capabilities in the North, National Defence committed $150 million, over 2019 – 2025, to a project to extend the runway at the Inuvik Airport.
  • National Defence supports the project and recognizes its importance for the region and for the local community.
  • While the Government of the Northwest Territories is responsible for all aspects of the project, we will support and facilitate discussions to help keep the project moving forward.
  • We need to allow the parties time to work through costs and assess the impact on the overall budget.
  • At this time, it is too early to determine if additional funding is required.

If pressed on the expired lease contract for the Inuvik Hangar Facilities:

  • National Defence maintains a number of assets in the North that support operational requirements and, where possible, benefit local communities. 
  • We are working with Public Services and Procurement Canada to ensure the Canadian Armed Forces have the appropriate facilities to support operations in the North.

Key Facts

  • Budget 2022: Allocates $6.1 billion over five years, with $1.3 billion in remaining amortization to increase defence capabilities, improve continental defence, and support commitments to our allies.
  • Budget 2021: The Government announced an initial $252.2M over five years, with $160 million in remaining amortization, starting in 2021-22, to support continental defence and NORAD modernization. This investment will:
    • Help build on existing science and technology (S&T) of cutting-edge technologies related to all-domain awareness and command, control and communications in our northern approaches.
    • Support sustainment of the joint Canada-United States North Warning System until new suitable solutions are in place. Science and technology continues to inform Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) technology as one signature investment towards a system-of-systems solution.
    • Contribute to modernizing long-range communications capabilities critical to Canadian Armed Forces operations in remote regions of Canada, including in the Arctic.
  • International cooperation: As outlined in Strong, Secure, Engaged, and the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, DND/CAF will work to enhance cooperation with Arctic Allies and partners to strengthen domain awareness and information sharing and will also look to increase participation in multinational exercises in the region.
    • 16 May 2022: Minister Anand convened an Arctic Defence Dialogue to share perspectives on the evolving threat environment with her counterparts from like-minded Arctic nations.
      • Minister Anand also invited them to continue the Dialogue with an in-person event in the Canadian Arctic in summer 2022.
    • Defence Research and Development Canada is an active participant in the International Cooperative Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR) with several arctic nations to advance National Defence’s scientific knowledge of the evolving arctic environment (eg. sea ice, temperature, salinity, ambient noise levels); and to ensure continued effectiveness in defence capabilities, systems and platforms, and their adaptation for future Canadian Armed Forces operations.
  • North Warning System In-Service Support Contract:
    • Contract value: The contract awarded to Nasittuq Corporation is for an initial period of seven years, and is valued at $592 million ($527 million before taxes).
  • Operation NANOOK: The Canadian Armed Forces maintains the ability to operate effectively in the North through annual operations. Operation NANOOK, the Canadian Armed Forces’ signature Arctic training operation, reinforces the Canadian Armed Forces as a key partner and expert in Arctic safety, security, and defence, and ensures a more persistent presence in the Arctic.
    • Operation NANOOK takes place across Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and is comprised of four different components throughout the year:
      • NANOOK-TATIGIIT is a whole-of-government territorial exercise for a response to a major incident in the North, and it is shaped by the needs of communities and supported by the capacities of those communities.
      • NANOOK-TUUGALIK is a maritime defence domain and security exercise that aims to demonstrate the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence in the Arctic, ensure Royal Canadian Navy readiness, and advance maritime interoperability with our Allies and partners.
      • NANOOK-NUNAKPUT is comprised of a series of Joint Canadian Armed Forces and whole-of-government presence, surveillance, and control activities in the North.
      • NANOOK-NUNALIVUT is a High Arctic Joint defence and security winter exercise with multinational participation.
  • Canadian Rangers: There are roughly 5,000 Canadian Rangers in 194 remote and isolated communities, including in the Arctic:
    • The Canadian Armed Forces looks to the Canadian Rangers for their knowledge of how to operate in the Arctic, their support to our northern operations, and for their continuing vigilance and reporting of activity in the North.
  • Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee: National Defence has recently joined the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee as a way to formalize and improve cooperation and collaboration with Inuit partners on defence, security, and sovereignty in the Arctic.
    • The Committee meets three times a year.
    • Once a year, it is co-chaired by Prime Minister Trudeau and the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
  • Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships: The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) will significantly enhance the Canadian Armed Forces’ capabilities and presence in the Arctic, better enabling the Royal Canadian Navy to assert and uphold Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.
    • As of September 12, 2021, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) HARRY DEWOLF completed its first operational deployment, which included participation in Operation NANOOK 2021, and a full transit of the Northwest Passage. It was the first Royal Canadian Navy ship of its class to do so since 1954.

Continental Defence and NORAD Modernization

  • Canada is committed to being a full partner in the defence of our shared continent.
  • Budget 2022 allocated $6.1 billion over five years, with $1.3 billion in remaining amortization to increase defence capabilities, improve continental defence, and support commitments to our allies.
  • We are currently considering options for significant additional investments in NORAD modernization and continental defence.
  • These investments would help fulfil commitments made by Canada and the United States in our Joint Statement on NORAD Modernization, which identified four priority areas for investment.
  • These priorities include strengthening situational awareness; modernizing command and control systems; enhancing defensive capabilities, including infrastructure; and advancing research.
  • We also regularly conduct joint exercises with the United States to ensure integrated and effective defence of the continent, including the Arctic.
  • In fact, the Arctic is an important focus of our work and we will continue to ensure we can adapt to the changing Arctic environment and evolving global security challenges.
  • We will also continue to engage with our Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners to determine shared priorities for Northern communities.

If pressed on participating in the US Ballistic Missile Defence System:

  • National Defence is committed to bolstering our sovereignty and security.
  • We continue to examine what is required to support continental defence in the face of the full range of new and evolving threats.

Key Facts

  • Budget 2022: Allocates $6.1 billion over five years, with $1.3 billion in remaining amortization to increase defence capabilities, improve continental defence, and support commitments to our allies.
  • Budget 2021: The Government announced an initial $252.2M over five years, with $160 million in remaining amortization, starting in 2021-22 to support continental defence and NORAD modernization. This investment will:
    • Help build on existing science and technology (S&T) of cutting-edge technologies related to all-domain awareness and command, control and communications in our northern approaches.
    • Support sustainment of the joint Canada-United States North Warning System until new suitable solutions are in place. Science and technology continues to inform Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) technology as one signature investment towards a system-of-systems solution.
    • Contribute to modernizing long-range communications capabilities critical to Canadian Armed Forces and NORAD operations in remote regions of Canada, including in the Arctic.
  • North Warning System In-Service Support Contract:
    • January 31, 2022: Following an open and transparent competition, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a contract to Nasittuq Corporation, an Inuit owned company, for the operation and maintenance of the North Warning System.
    • Contract value: The contract is for an initial period of seven years, and is valued at $592 million ($527 million before taxes).
    • This process reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to renewing and strengthening its economic relationship with Inuit and ensuring that Inuit communities benefit from federal procurement.
  • Over 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces members support NORAD in fulfilling its missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for the defence of North America.
  • 1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD): Canadian NORAD Region headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, provides operational command and control of assigned assets while the Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS), located in North Bay, Ontario provides tactical command and control of assigned assets for the Canadian NORAD Region.
  • Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC): As a result of engagement in support of continental defence and NORAD modernization proposals, National Defence has recently joined the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee as a way to formalize and improve cooperation and collaboration with Inuit partners on defence, security, and sovereignty in the Arctic.
    • The ICPC mechanism provides an opportunity to include broader discussions on Arctic sovereignty and defence while affirming our commitment to advancing reconciliation.
    • The Committee meets three times a year.
    • Once a year, it is co-chaired by Prime Minister Trudeau and the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Impact of Climate Change on CAF Operations

*For Arctic issues, please see Tab 59 on Arctic Surveillance and the North

  • Climate change is affecting the frequency, duration and intensity of CAF operations at home and abroad, placing unprecedented demand on force generation, readiness, training, and equipment.
  • As an example, deployments under Operation LENTUS, which support provincial and territorial requests for assistance in response to natural disasters, have increased exponentially since 2010.
  • Climate change also erodes essential defence infrastructure and equipment across Canada, and puts bases and training sites at risk from flooding, forest fires, changes to permafrost, and severe storms.
  • Domestically, we are supporting efforts to develop Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy, which will help raise awareness of the security implications of climate change and identify potential solutions for building resilience across multiple sectors.
  • Internationally, we are also working with Allies to establish a NATO Climate and Security Centre of Excellence in Canada, to ensure that our militaries are responsive and resilient to climate-related threats and emergencies.

Key Facts

Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE):

  • SSE recognized the security implications of climate change both at home and abroad, including:
    • Threats to the Arctic;
    • An increasing demand for CAF assets to respond to natural disasters in Canada and abroad; and,
    • The role climate change plays in exacerbating the drivers of conflict in fragile states.
  • National Defence is working with its federal partners to improve and increase its environmental data collection to monitor the change in meteorological and oceanographic conditions through time.

Operations:

  • Operation LENTUS provides support to provincial and territorial authorities to respond quickly and effectively to natural disasters in Canada.
  • Between 1990 and 2010, the CAF conducted eight LENTUS operations, averaging about one operation every other year.
  • In contrast, from 2010 to 2020, the CAF conducted 26 LENTUS operations, averaging a little more than two-and-a-half operations each year.
  • In 2021, the CAF conducted eight LENTUS operations.
  • Operation RENAISSANCE provides support to international humanitarian and disaster response operations.
  • Climate impacts are disruptive to military training schedules, as the training period is coinciding with increased deployments due to a more active natural disaster hazard season.

Funding:

  • The increase in domestic operations in support of climate disasters has resulted in increased pressure on National Defence’s operating budget.
  • Deployments contribute to higher carbon emissions, which can drive up the cost for deployments due to costs required for carbon offset.
  • The Operational Funding Account (OFA) is projecting an average annual pressure on the OFA budget of approximately $5.9 M for the next two years, and it is likely to increase as climate disasters continue to drive the operational tempo.

National Adaptation Strategy:

  • Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy is an opportunity to unite all orders of government through shared priorities, cohesive action, and a whole-of-society approach.
  • The Strategy will include a national monitoring and evaluation system to measure progress and deliver outcomes for increased collaboration toward a safer and more resilient future.

Royal Military College Saint-Jean:

  • At Royal Military College Saint-Jean, a new Bachelor’s degree program in Geopolitics and Climate Science is being developed that will position Officer and Naval Cadets and the Canadian Armed Forces to address the key issues at the heart of climate change.

Advanced Reconnaissance Plane Purchase

  • Advanced reconnaissance equipment is critical for mission success as it provides high quality images and tracking, enhancing our members’ capability.
  • That is why, we are procuring three specialized aircraft with integrated advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment.
  • The main purpose of the aircraft is to support Canadian Armed Forces operations abroad.
  • The use of the aircraft at home and abroad will be governed by applicable Canadian and international laws, and supported by strong operational directives.
  • This procurement will ensure our Canadian Armed Forces members have the modern tools required to address 21st century challenges.

If pressed on the 10 February flight seen in Ottawa during the convoy protests:

  • The flight in question was part of a Canadian Armed Forces training exercise that was planned prior to, and was unrelated to, the domestic event that was taking place in Ottawa.
  • Similar training flights were conducted in July 2021.

Key Facts

  • Aircraft details: The CE145C aircraft are based on the Beechcraft King Air 350ER turbo prop platform.
    • Aircraft have military-grade advanced sensors, secure communications equipment and a nose extension designed to accommodate a mission sensor.
      • Will complement the Canadian Armed Forces Intelligence surveillance reconnaissance capabilities.
  • Budget: between $246.9M (CAN).
    • This funding includes the acquisition of the aircraft and prime mission equipment, infrastructure, training and initial in-service support.
  • Timeline: Full operational capacity of the fleet in 2024.
  • Location: 8 Wing Trenton.
    • In February 2021, Canada awarded a contract to modify a pre-existing hangar at 8 Wing Trenton.
      • Construction completion is anticipated for early fall 2022.

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