Contributions

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program: NATO Military Budget

  • In Strong, Secure, Engaged, and Budget 2022, Canada re-affirmed its unwavering support to multilateralism and reaffirmed NATO as a cornerstone of Canada’s defence and security policy. 
  • To support these efforts, Canada contributes annual funds to the NATO Military Budget.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $157.1 million to support operating and maintenance costs for Allied military activities.
  • These funds will be used to support the International Military Staff, NATO’s Command Structure, as well as NATO operations and missions.
  • They will also be used to support the NATO Airborne Warning and Control System as well as Allied Ground Surveillance, which provides military commanders a comprehensive picture of the situation on the ground.
  • Canada will continue to make important contributions to global peace and security as we are doing in Latvia, Ukraine, and the Middle East.

Key Facts

  • NATO Military Budget: A common-funded program that finances the operating and maintenance costs of the NATO military structure and activities, including deployed operations and missions.
    • It is distinct and separate from other designated NATO activities and on-going operations.
  • Budget 2021: Through Budget 2021, the Government announced $847 million over five years to maintain Canada’s military at a higher state of readiness under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Readiness Initiative, and to increase Canada’s contributions to NATO’s common budget and military activities.
  • Budget 2022:
    • To reinforce Canada’s national defence, announcements in Budget 2022 will provide a total of more than $8B (on a cash basis) in new funding over five years—on top of planned increases associated with Strong, Secure, Engaged, which will:
      • Strengthen Canada’s contributions to our core alliances;
      • Bolster the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces;
      • Continue to support culture change and a safe and healthy working environment in the Canadian Armed Forces; and,
      • Reinforce Canada’s cyber security.
    • To increase the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $6.1B on an accrual basis ($7.4B cash) over five years, starting in 2022-23, in order to meet our defence priorities, including:
      • Ensuring our continental defences;
      • Fulfilling commitments to our allies; and,
      • Investing in equipment and technology to immediately increase the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Defence Spending:

  • Canada is the 6th largest contributor to NATO’s commonly funded budget, in comparison to other NATO members.
  • Canada is forecasted to spend 1.34% of GDP on defence in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
  • Canada’s forecasted defence spending will increase to 1.48% by 2024. The main contributor for the increase is the Budget 2022 announcement.
  • Canada is forecasted to spend approximately 28.5% of its defence expenditures on major equipment in 2024, far exceeding the 20% NATO guideline.

NATO Operations:

  • Canada actively contributes to several NATO missions including commanding the NATO battlegroup in Latvia (Operation REASSURANCE), and contributing to the NATO training mission in Iraq (Operation IMPACT).
    • Further information on Canada’s contribution to Operation REASSURANCE and efforts on Ukraine can be found at Tabs 55 and 56.
    • Operation IMPACT: Canada recently renewed Operation IMPACT until 31 March 2023.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program: NATO Security Investment Program

  • The National Security Investment Program helps fund the capital costs associated with NATO’s communications and information systems, installations, and facilities.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $62.9 million to contribute to this program. 
  • These funds will go towards various installations at NATO facilities like radars, airfields, harbours, fuel pipelines, and storage units.
  • These funds will also be used to support navigational aids; automated information systems; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, which assist NATO’s activities and deployed operations.
  • Canada will continue working closely with NATO Allies to enhance our collective security and promote peace and stability around the world.      

Key Facts

  • NATO Security Investment Program: A common-funded program that finances the capital costs for communications and information systems, installations and facilities to support the NATO military structure and activities, including deployed operations and missions.
    • It is distinct and separate from other designated NATO activities and on-going operations.
    • Canada’s share of NATO’s Security Investment Program (NSIP) remains unchanged at 6.9% in 2022.
  • Budget 2021: Through Budget 2021, the Government announced $847 million over five years to maintain Canada’s military at a higher state of readiness under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Readiness Initiative, and to increase Canada’s contributions to NATO’s common budget and military activities.
  • Budget 2022:
    • To reinforce Canada’s national defence, announcements in Budget 2022 will provide a total of more than $8B (on a cash basis) in new funding over five years—on top of planned increases associated with Strong, Secure, Engaged, which will:
      • Strengthen Canada’s contributions to our core alliances;
      • Bolster the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces;
      • Continue to support culture change and a safe and healthy working environment in the Canadian Armed Forces; and,
      • Reinforce Canada’s cyber security.
    • To increase the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $6.1B on an accrual basis ($7.4B cash) over five years, starting in 2022-23, in order to meet our defence priorities, including:
      • Ensuring our continental defences;
      • Fulfilling commitments to our allies; and,
      • Investing in equipment and technology to immediately increase the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Defence Spending:

  • Canada is the 6th largest contributor to NATO’s commonly funded budget, in comparison to other NATO members.
  • Canada is forecasted to spend 1.34% of GDP on defence in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
  • Canada’s forecasted defence spending will increase to 1.48% by 2024. The main contributor for the increase is the Budget 2022 announcement.
  • Canada is forecasted to spend approximately 28.5% of its defence expenditures on major equipment in 2024, far exceeding the 20% NATO guideline.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program: NATO Other Activities

  • NATO’s ‘Other Activities’ budget is separate from NATO’s Military Budget and its Security Investment Program.
  • Funding going toward NATO’s other activities helps to pay for projects that do not fall under the NATO military budget or NATO Security Investment Program.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $4.2 million to contribute to NATO’s other activities.
  • For example, this includes NATO’s Centres of Excellence, including the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
  • Funding will also support NATO’s Naval Forces Sensor and Weapons Accuracy Check Sites, NATO’s Rapidly Deployable Corps Headquarters, as well as NATO’s Production and Logistics Organizations.
  • Canada will continue working closely with NATO Allies to enhance our collective security and promote peace and stability around the world.  

Key Facts

  • Canada’s contributions to NATO Other Activities are voluntary.
  • Budget 2021: Through Budget 2021, the Government announced $847 million over five years to maintain Canada’s military at a higher state of readiness under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Readiness Initiative, and to increase Canada’s contributions to NATO’s common budget and military activities.
  • Budget 2022:
    • To reinforce Canada’s national defence, announcements in Budget 2022 will provide a total of more than $8B (on a cash basis) in new funding over five years—on top of planned increases associated with Strong, Secure, Engaged, which will:
      • Strengthen Canada’s contributions to our core alliances;
      • Bolster the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces;
      • Continue to support culture change and a safe and healthy working environment in the Canadian Armed Forces; and,
      • Reinforce Canada’s cyber security.
    • To increase the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $6.1B on an accrual basis ($7.4B cash) over five years, starting in 2022-23, in order to meet our defence priorities, including:
      • Ensuring our continental defences;
      • Fulfilling commitments to our allies; and,
      • Investing in equipment and technology to immediately increase the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces.
  • NATO Centres of Excellence: These Centres are international military organisations that train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries.
    • They assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned, improve interoperability and capabilities, and test and validate concepts through experimentation.
    • They offer recognised expertise and experience that is of benefit to the Alliance, and support the transformation of NATO, while avoiding the duplication of assets, resources, and capabilities already present within the Alliance.
  • NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence: The Centre’s mission is to support its member nations and NATO with unique interdisciplinary expertise in the field of cyber defence research, training, and exercises covering the focus areas of technology, strategy, operations, and law.
    • Canada’s Role: Membership in this Centre of Excellence enables Canada to play a more active role in developing NATO cyber doctrine. Membership also gives Canada access to a unique multilateral forum wherein joint challenges can be worked out collaboratively.

Defence Spending:

  • Canada is the 6th largest contributor to NATO’s commonly funded budget, in comparison to other NATO members.
  • Canada is forecasted to spend 1.34% of GDP on defence in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
  • Canada’s forecasted defence spending will increase to 1.48% by 2024. The main contributor for the increase is the Budget 2022 announcement.
  • Canada is forecasted to spend approximately 28.5% of its defence expenditures on major equipment in 2024, far exceeding the 20% NATO guideline.

Contributions in Support of Various Sexual Assault Centres in Canada

  • National Defence is committed to ensuring that survivors of sexual assault are heard, and that they feel safe and supported.
  • That is why we are investing in the Contributions in Support of Various Sexual Assault Centres in Canada Program, administered by the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC).
  • This program seeks to enhance access to survivor support services by providing funding to support up to 10 sexual assault centres within close proximity to CAF bases across Canada.
  • As such, in these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $500,000 to provide financial support to these not-for-profit sexual assault locations.
  • Funds will allow the centres to launch new initiatives and expand existing services, such as peer support groups and confidential spaces off base, to support the CAF community.
  • By facilitating access to critical support services, the expected outcome of this program is that survivors in the CAF community are better able to cope with the effects of sexual assault.

Key Facts

  • 2018: The Contributions in Support of Various Sexual Assault Centres in Canada Program was established to provide additional support to CAF members and non-mandated groups (including family members, civilian members, and National Defence contractors).
  • It provides opportunities for increased collaboration between community-based civilian service providers and CAF service providers.
  • This program falls under Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
  • Budget 2021: Committed funding to advance a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, as well as to address sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the CAF.
    • This includes expanding the Sexual Assault Centres in Canada Program, and work is ongoing.
  • The centres ensure programming responds to diverse population needs (including LGBTQ2+ persons, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and both men and women), based on a GBA+ analysis during program development.
  • Funding: $500,000 annually over four years, with the program expected to end in fiscal year 2022-2023.
  • In fiscal year 2021-22, funding agreements were in place with 9 sexual assault centres in the following communities:  
    • Barrie, ON – CFB Borden;
    • Kingston, ON – CFB Kingston;
    • Petawawa, ON – CFB Petawawa;
    • Ottawa, ON – CFSU Ottawa;
    • Fredericton, NB – CFB Gagetown;
    • Victoria, BC – CFB Esquimalt;
    • Québec City, QC – CFB Valcartier;
    • Halifax, NS – CFB Halifax; and,
    • Edmonton, AB – CFB Edmonton.
  • The 9 centres have created 33 new programs. Below are some examples:
    • The Men’s Therapy Centre (Victoria, BC) developed a psychoeducational online group program, exploring the understanding of trauma and trauma support capacities of the community.
    • The Sexual Assault Centre (Edmonton) developed a tailor-made three-hour professional development training for the Mental Health Team at the Garrison Base on responding to people who have experienced sexual violence.
    • The Sexual Assault Support Centre (Ottawa) launched a one-month social media campaign specific to the CAF community survivors from March 8 until April 8 and more than 64 informative posters were shared with survivors through SASC social media.

Contributions in Support of the Capital Assistance Program

  • Through the Capital Assistance Program, National Defence provides funding to local, provincial, and territorial governments and agencies to upgrade and expand defence infrastructure.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $35.5 million to fund up to 15 projects across the country.
  • For example, in support of Air Sovereignty Alert Operations, funding is being provided to the Government of the Northwest Territories to extend the existing runway at the Forward Operating Location Inuvik.
  • The project is in implementation, and it is anticipated to be completed in five years.
  • We are also providing funding to the Government of Nunavut to upgrade the road from Arctic Bay to the Nanasivik port, which will facilitate access to the Nanisivik Naval Facility.
  • The project is anticipated to be completed within two years.
  • Funding will also be used to provide safe drinking water to Valcartier Garrison via a connection to the neigbouring municipal water distribution network.
  • These investments will help to optimize defence infrastructure, enhance the quality of life of military personnel and their families, and ensure our Armed Forces can train and operate successfully.
  • They will also benefit the economies of the individual municipalities where the work is being done, by providing local jobs and supporting local industry.

Key Facts

  • Three key active projects for 2022-23:
    • Inuvik Runway Extension: $150 million over 2019 – 2025.
      • Providing contribution funding to the Government of the Northwest Territories to extend the existing runway at the Forward Operating Location Inuvik for shared public / National Defence use.
      • The runaway will be extended from 6,000-feet to 9,000-feet in support of Air Sovereignty Alert Operations, Canadian Sovereignty Operations, and the defence of Canada’s North.
    • Nanisivik Road Upgrade and Maintenance: $5 million upgrade and $17 million over 25 years for maintenance.
      • Once the upgrade to the road from Arctic Bay to the Nanisivik port is completed (2023-2024) this contribution will continue to provide funding for 25 years to the Government of Nunavut for maintenance and ongoing repair work to Nanisivik Road. 
    • Valcartier Water Distribution: $12.6 million over 2021-2023.
      • Providing safe drinking water to Valcartier Garrison via a connection to the neighbouring municipal water distribution network.

Contributions in Support of the Military Training and Cooperation Program

  • The Military Training and Cooperation Program plays an important role in building partner capacity and advancing defence diplomacy with countries of strategic interest to Canada.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $11.4 million to provide cooperative training to approximately 1,700 military personnel from 64 non-NATO member countries, such as Peru, Tunisia, and Malaysia (annually).
  • These funds will be used to provide training in key areas, such as enhanced understanding of civil-military relations, improved English and French communication skills, Peace Support Operations, military professional development, and delegation and expert team visits.
  • This Program is designed to meet Canada’s defence and foreign policy objectives, including enhanced bilateral and multilateral interoperability among Canada’s partners.
  • It also contributes to international peace and security by promoting the rule of law, democratic principles, and the protection of human rights.

Key Facts

  • The Military Training and Cooperation Program trains approximately 1,700 military personnel from 64 countries annually.
  • As part of this program, Canada provides non-lethal military training, including:
    • Language training;
    • Peace Support Operations training;
    • Military professional development; and,
    • Delegation and expert team visits.
  • Ukraine Military Training and Cooperation Program involvement: Beginning in 2014, Canada began enhancing its Military Training and Cooperation programming for Ukraine:
    • Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Programming: The ongoing security crisis has prevented Ukraine to accept National Defence’s course nominations. This has also resulted in the halting of all activities relating to the design, development, and execution of MAPLE ARCH 2022, originally scheduled to occur in Zhytomyr, Ukraine in November 2022.
    • Fiscal Year 2021/2022 Programming: National Defence continued to offer positions on distance-learning courses in the areas of language, professional development, and staff officer training. For example, Ukraine was allocated an initial combined total of 28 seats for the following courses:
      • Integration of Women and Gender Perspectives in the Armed Forces;
      • Distance Learning Design and Delivery; and,
      • Senior Officer Security Studies.

Contribution to the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association

  • The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association Program trains over 1,700 volunteers nationwide to support aeronautical Search and Rescue activities coordinated by Canadian Armed Forces, as well as civilian Search and Rescue authorities.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $3.1 million to support the Search and Rescue training events and initiatives, including in remote and northern locations.
  • The funds will also help cover the program’s operating costs, such as insurance, national and regional office administration, and IT equipment and support.
  • Through these activities, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association helps maintain an effective and affordable Search and Rescue system and augments the Canadian Armed Forces’ capacity to provide life-saving assistance to those who are in distress.

Key Facts

  • Membership: 1,855 volunteers nationwide
  • Volunteers include pilots, navigators, spotters, search coordinators, electronic search specialists, radio operators, and administrative support staff.
  • Total Civil Air Search and Rescue Association taskings in 2021-2022: 99 tasks for 86 SAR cases
    • 35 aircraft taskings;
    • 52 ground vehicle taskings;
    • 18 cases where aircraft or people were missing/in distress; and,
    • 12 lives saved.

Contribution to the Biological and Chemical Defence Review Committee

  • The Biological and Chemical Defence Review Committee is an independent group of non-governmental biological and chemical defence experts.
  • Each year, the Committee inspects a number of National Defence facilities and issues an independent, publicly accessible report with its findings.
  • In these Estimates, National Defence is requesting $141,844 to continue the important work of the Committee.
  • These funds will be used to conduct reviews of 11 National Defence facilities in 2022-2023.
  • This work provides independent expert review of Canadian biological and chemical defence activities to help improve program safety and professional conduct.
  • It also fosters public and international confidence that Canadian biological and chemical defence activities are for defensive purposes only, and are in line with our international obligations.

Key Facts

  • Facilities to be reviewed in 2022-23 include:
    • Maritime Forces Pacific
    • Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) - Suffield Research Centre
    • 2 Air Expeditionary Wing
    • National Defence Headquarters
    • Headquarters, Canadian Joint Operations Command
    • Director, Joint Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defence
    • DRDC Centre for Security Science
    • Canadian Forces Health Services Group Headquarters
    • Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment)
    • DRDC Corporate Office

Remediation of the North Bay Jack Garland Airport Site

  • National Defence recognizes its responsibility and accountability for the impact that defence activities have on the environment, communities, and people.
  • That is why, in June 2021, Treasury Board approved a contribution agreement between the federal government and the City of North Bay.
  • In these estimates, National Defence is requesting $1.5 million to fulfill its Fiscal Year 2022/23 contribution for the remediation of the North Bay Jack Garland Airport site.
  • The City of North Bay initiated this project in fall 2021.
  • These funds will allow the City of North Bay to continue implementing their remediation project, which will assist in minimizing the risk of adverse effects to the environment in the local areas.
  • Through agreements such as this, National Defence is committed to ensuring our members and activities respect the environment, and exercise environmental stewardship.

Key Facts

  • Contributions: The 2022/23 contributions provided to the City of North Bay will be used for the development of a remediation and risk management strategy.
  • The Jack Garland Airport was previously owned by National Defence and Transport Canada and formed part of 22 Wing Canadian Forces Base North Bay.
    • Past military training activities at 22 Wing and Jack Garland Airport, including fire-fighting and responses to spills, have contributed to contamination at the site.
    • The project aims to remediate the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
  • July 21, 2021: The contribution agreement between National Defence and the City of North Bay came into effect. 
    • This agreement was rendered in accordance with the federal Policy Framework for Shared-Responsibility Contaminated Sites Project Funding.

Vancouver Principles

  • The Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers is a set of political commitments launched by Canada in 2017.
  • To implement and operationalize these Principles, Canada works closely with academia and NGOs through the Vancouver Principles Contribution Program.
  • In these Main Estimates, National Defence is requesting $225,000 to provide funding to this Contribution Program.
  • These funds will support non-government organizations to conduct research and identify lessons learned and best practices on preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
  • This research will help to enhance education and training on child soldiers for the Canadian Armed Forces.
  • It will also help ensure that military members have the preparation they need to respond effectively when encountering child soldiers in UN peacekeeping operations.

If pressed on Canada’s support to UN peacekeeping:

  • Canada is proud to support peace support operations around the world.
  • This is why Canada renewed our commitment to Operation PRESENCE until March 31, 2023.
  • This will enable the Canadian Armed Forces to continue to provide military capabilities to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
  • This year alone, our members have provided tactical airlift support that flew 16 missions, and transported 390,500 pounds of cargo and 846 passengers in support of UN missions.
  • Through these efforts, Canada will continue to provide high value equipment and expertise in support of UN peacekeeping operations.

Key Facts

  • In total, National Defence will provide the Vancouver Principles Contribution Program $1.125M from Fiscal Years 2019-24.
  • To date, 105 countries have endorsed the Vancouver Principles.

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