Communications

Messaging on key issues

• Canada-United States Defence Relationship
• China
• Security and Defence Partnership Between Canada and the European Union on Defence Procurement
• Canada's Defence Investments
• Canada's Defence Industrial Base
• Recruitment and Retention
• North American Aerospace Defense Command
• Assistance to Ukraine
• Arctic Security Environment
• Missile Defence
• CAF Operations
• River-Class Destroyer
• Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
• Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement Project
• Canadian Patrol Submarine Project
• Arctic Over the Horizon Radar

Canada-United States Defence Relationship

• The Defence Team shares a deep relationship with the United States (U.S.) military, both of which have a long history of deploying alongside each other in support of allies and partners.
• This close relationship has continued throughout changes in government on both sides of the border.
• We share many of the U.S.'s concerns about the evolving strategic world environment. We will maintain and strengthen constructive dialogue with the Pentagon to address strategic competition with China and Russia, and other challenges to the international rules-based order.
• The Arctic is where our most crucial sovereign interests lie, but it is also an area where the Department of National Defence (DND) can punch above its weight in the defence of our shared continent because of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) expertise in operating and sustaining operations in the North, in collaboration with northern and Indigenous communities.
• Our commitments align with key U.S. priorities. We see this in our shared commitment to working together on the defence and security of North America, including through the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and our respective investments to modernize NORAD capabilities so that it can continue to deliver on its important mission, and bolster continental defence more broadly.
• Nearly $40 billion has been committed to enhance Canada's contributions to NORAD, with another $73 billion committed to new defence spending. Many of these projects will be implemented in coordination with our U.S. partners to remain fully interoperable and leverage synergies where possible.
• We are committed to delivering on these investments quickly so that our members in uniform have the resources they need to perform the tasks expected of them, and to bolster Canadian deterrence.
• These investments also enhance the protection of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) western flank and provide Canada with a secure base from which to deploy in case of crisis or conflict.

China

• Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy is shaped by a realistic and clear-eyed assessment of today's China and clearly articulates our evolving approach to that country. We will always defend Canada's national interest.
• All countries – big and small – must abide by international law. This is how we safeguard global stability and prosperity. China has demonstrated willingness at times to engage in coercive behaviour that challenges stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• We will challenge China when necessary, including when it engages in coercive behaviour, or undermines our national security interests and those of partners in the region.
• We will work with regional partners and cooperate with China to find solutions to global issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, while protecting and preserving the rules-based international order.
• We acknowledge the challenges to the international order in the Indo-Pacific, including those posed by an increasingly capable and assertive China.
• We acknowledge that we must manage our defence relationship with China purposefully. Continued engagement and frank dialogue will establish guardrails and reduce the risk of miscalculation.

Security and Defence Partnership Between Canada and the European Union on Defence Procurement

• As a NATO Ally, Canada has been, and will continue to be, a reliable and important partner for the European Union (EU) and its member states.
• We appreciate the EU's contributions to their regional security and defence. A stronger European pillar of NATO will improve our shared Euro-Atlantic security.
• The strong reference to enhancing the Canada-EU partnership in the White Paper for European Defence is noted.
• The Security Action For Europe (SAFE) legislative proposal makes concrete accommodations for partners, including a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) with the EU, which Canada is currently negotiating.
• We value Canada's longstanding and ongoing security and defence cooperation with the EU and intends to further enhance it with the SDP.
• Canadian industry has much to offer that could help address EU defence capability needs, including cutting-edge technologies in domains that the EU White Paper highlighted, such as drones and cyber warfare capabilities.
• We also hope to leverage EU expertise for our own defence needs.

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Canada's Defence Investments

• We are making the investments necessary to protect Canadians, defend our North, and support our Allies.
• Our planned investments in defence have increased Canada's forecasted defence spending from $41 billion in 2024–25 to $57.8 billion in 2029–30.
• Canada is already the seventh-largest spender in NATO.
  • That is an estimated 1.37% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024–25.
  • We are on track to exceed the 20% guideline for major equipment expenditures in future years.
• We are committed to accelerating our spending and procurement capacity so that we can reach the target of 2% of GDP for defence expenditures as quickly as possible.
• As we move toward 2% of GDP investment in defence, we will continue to modernize and expand capabilities.
  • The process of procuring up to 12 conventionally powered under-ice capable submarines is an important step in that direction.
  • We will also invest in new capabilities like long-range missiles, modernized artillery capabilities, and ground-based air defence to defend critical infrastructure.

Canada's Defence Industrial Base

• To meet new defence investment targets, we must redefine how government and industry collaborate in the defence and security of Canada.
• Increased investment requires a clear strategy that allows Canadian industry to respond effectively to this new reality.
• The Defence Team is developing a Defence Industrial Strategy to bring strategic coherence to our efforts to reach the 2% of GDP defence investment commitment.
  • The Strategy will help strengthen Canadian industrial capacity, so that increased defence investment benefits the broader Canadian economy, and leverages CAF infrastructure needs, especially in the North.

[If pressed on relationship between Canada-U.S. defence industries]

• Recent threats from the U.S., our closest Ally, have made it clear that we must invest in Canada. These investments will make us stronger at home and more competitive around the world.
• Our defence and industry investments will help strengthen North American security, but their biggest benefit is to the CAF and Canadians.
• These changes in approach present a significant opportunity for Canadian industry as we continue to create jobs and foster innovation here at home.

Recruitment and Retention

• The defence of Canada starts with our CAF members who play a critical role in domestic security, and work effectively with our international allies.
• The diversity of the CAF is the foundation of its operational effectiveness. The CAF must draw from a broad pool to recruit the very best applicants for military service.
• From 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the CAF enrolled 6,706 new members into the Regular Force, surpassing the goal of 6,496 recruits for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
• In that same period, the CAF enrolled a total of 679 permanent residents.
• The CAF's new Online Applicant Portal went live on 03 March 2025. It is designed to offer prospective candidates a more active role in the processing of their files, giving them the option to upload files electronically, book appointments online and track the progress of their application.

North American Aerospace Defense Command

• NORAD is the cornerstone of our defence relationship with the U.S. and a critical part of Canada's contribution to the defence of North America.
• Our contribution to NORAD supports the defence of Canada, including in the Arctic, strengthens the defence of NATO's western flank, and helps North America remain a secure base from which to project power in support of allies and partners during a crisis or conflict.
• In June 2022, the Government announced Canada's plan to invest about $38 billion over twenty years to modernize NORAD.
• These investments will allow for modernized surveillance, communications and command-and-control capabilities, new air weapons systems, and upgraded infrastructure across the country. These are essential capabilities to keep North America safe.
• Joint Canada-U.S. efforts to modernize NORAD's capabilities will help us meet evolving security challenges, reinforce the close cooperation between both countries, and further solidify NORAD's central role in the defence of North America.
• We are also investing in Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, maritime sensors, and drone and counter-drone capabilities. These will further support NORAD's mission set and expand our awareness of potential threats, including in our Northern and Arctic region.

Early progress on capabilities

• Work is ongoing with the U.S., especially on Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) and other domain awareness solutions for NORAD requirements.
• Binational work on NORAD Cloud-Based Command and Control:
  • Canada is providing funding and working closely with the U.S. implementation team.
  • In January 2024, it was introduced to the Canadian Air Defence Sector 22 Wing, in North Bay, Ontario.
  • This achievement is one of the first introductions of classified cloud architecture in Canada and a significant advancement in work with allies using such systems.
• Strategic Tanker Transport Capability contract announced in July 2023:
  • This project will deliver a fleet of 9 aircraft and provide additional Air-to-Air Refueling capacity in support of NORAD.
  • The first 3 aircraft have been delivered. In March 2024, 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario was announced as the Eastern Main Operating Base for the aircraft.
  • On November 12, 2024, DND announced that negotiations are underway with the Edmonton International Airport to formalize an agreement for the location of the Western Main Operating Base.
• Engagement with Northern partners on significant upgrades to our Northern infrastructure to support NORAD's operations by both Canadian and American aircraft in the North and the Arctic is also ongoing.

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Assistance to Ukraine

• For three years, Russia has carried out an illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, threatening global stability and violating international law.
• To support Ukraine in its time of need, we provided over $19.5 billion in support to Ukraine, including $4.5 billion in total military assistance since February 2022. This includes Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms and M777 howitzers, along with associated ammunition.
• Launched in 2015, Operation UNIFIER is the CAF's military training, professionalization, and capacity-building mission in support of Ukraine. To date, the CAF has trained more than 44,000 members of the Security Forces of Ukraine (SFU). Canada announced the extension of this mission until March 2026 to respond to Ukraine's training needs.
• The CAF continues to train SFU members under Operation UNIFIER, with approximately 350 CAF members currently deployed in the United Kingdom (UK), Poland, and Latvia in various roles.
• Since late March 2022, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has transported over 24 million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada, allies, and partners.
• In July 2024 at the Washington NATO Summit, $500 million in aid were committed to Ukraine, including $443.8 million in military assistance.
• This funding complements the $1.6 billion that was pledged to Ukraine over the next five years under the 2024 Canada-Ukraine Strategic Security Partnership.

Arctic Security Environment

• The Arctic is at an inflection point where climate change, economic interests, and geopolitical competition are coming together in a way that makes the region more strategically important than ever before.
• Climate change is having a dramatic impact in the Arctic, with warming recorded at about four times the global average, resulting in melting sea ice, rapid coastal erosion, increased precipitation, permafrost degradation, and invasive species migration.
• The melting of the Arctic is also making the region more accessible to foreign actors who have growing capabilities and regional ambitions.
• Competitors seek to challenge the international rules-based order and are engaging in dual-use activities, such as economic or scientific activities that act as a cover for military intelligence collection and planning.
• As Arctic and non-Arctic states seek to benefit from the region's natural resource potential and strategic position, it is becoming increasingly critical that we maintain regional stability in the region.
• Responding to these threats requires effective collaboration across all levels of government, with Northern and Indigenous partners, and among Allies and partners.
• It is essential that the Defence Team strengthens its ability to operate and sustain operations in the region, and its ability to detect, deter, and if necessary, defeat threats to Canada and North America.
• The environmental changes in the Arctic present threats to the health and wellbeing of Northerners, their traditional ways of life, and northern infrastructure, including critical defence installations.
  • These changes also increase the demand for the CAF to support civilian authorities for domestic emergency response, including disaster response and search and rescue operations.

Missile Defence

• In this rapidly evolving strategic environment, Canada recognizes that Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) is critical to deter and defend against the full spectrum of air and missile weapons.
• We are strengthening Canada's IAMD posture with new investments in early warning and sensing, defensive and offensive capabilities, modernized command-and-control, enhanced infrastructure, and research and development.
• Improving Canada's IAMD will have significant benefits across the CAF's theatres of operation, reinforce our contribution to collective security, and enable us to support our allies from a position of strength.
• Canada has committed to acquiring a fleet of airborne early warning aircraft, deployable maritime sensors, drones and counter-drone capabilities, and long-range missile capabilities, and that all relevant platforms are integrated in our air and missile defence architecture. Options are also being explored for ground-based air defence systems to defend critical infrastructure.
• This will complement and build on previous investments such as the River-Class Destroyers (RCD) and OTHR.
• Taken together, these investments will enable a more integrated defence against air and missile threats by helping Canada identify threats earlier and respond to them faster, and by strengthening our contribution to collective security.

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CAF Operations

• More than 3,000 CAF personnel are currently deployed on more than 20 different operations across Canada and around the world.
• These operations contribute to asserting Canadian sovereignty, defending North America and advancing Canada's global interests and values.

Select International Operations

Operation REASSURANCE

• Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities undertaken by the CAF since 2014 to support NATO's defence and deterrence measures in Eastern and Central Europe.
• Operation REASSURANCE enhances Canada's operational readiness and interoperability with its NATO Allies and security partners, while also strengthening NATO's collective capability to respond in a timely and effective manner to a variety of operational contingencies in Central and Eastern Europe.
• The mission shows the strength of Allied solidarity and helps make the region more secure and stable. Deployed CAF members conduct training, exercises, and some NATO-specific tasks. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and the illegal annexation of Crimea, NATO Allies agreed at the 2016 Summit in Warsaw to establish an enhanced forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, to strengthen deterrence measures. These battle groups form part of the largest reinforcement of NATO's collective defence in a generation.
• There are approximately 2,000 CAF members deployed in support of Operation REASSURANCE, making it Canada's largest current international military operation involving the deployment of land, sea, and air elements to Europe.
  • Canada has been the Framework Nation for NATO forces in Latvia since 2017, when the Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup was established.
  • In 2022, Canada and Latvia agreed to augment and expand the Battlegroup.
  • In 2024, Multinational Brigade Latvia was established with Canada remaining as the Framework nation.
• Canada is now responsible for leading and coordinating the contributions of 14 other Allies to NATO's Multinational Brigade Latvia. It includes the greater number of Allies, featuring a unique training environment with nearly half of NATO Allies working together, promoting greater interoperability.

Operation NANOOK

• Provinces and territories are taking action to support continental security in a variety of ways, including by strengthening relations with bordering U.S. states to emphasize the importance of maintaining security ties, participating in preparedness exercises like Operation NANOOK.
• Operation NANOOK is a combined, joint, interagency, and multinational operation designed to provide a visible presence in the North and to demonstrate Canada's ability to respond effectively to safety and security incidents in the region.
• Operation NANOOK provides the CAF with opportunities to develop and maintain strong working relationships with allies and partners in the North and advance broader Government of Canada Arctic priorities. This ongoing focus on enduring partnerships, reinforced by credible deterrence and operational readiness, will be essential as Canada continues to fulfill its responsibility to protect this vital and unique part of the world.
• The CAF's success in conducting large-scale operations in the Arctic is a testament to their training, professionalism, and outstanding ability to perform in one of the world's most austere cold-weather environments. Operation NANOOK serves to enhance the skills of CAF personnel and increase interoperability with regional security partners for mutual defence.

Operation CARIBBE

• Operation CARIBBE is Canada's contribution to U.S.- led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• Under this operation, CAF ships and aircraft deploy to the region on a rotational basis to support the U.S. mission to suppress drug trafficking in international waters.
• Over the past 17 years, the CAF has contributed to the disruption or seizure of more than 123 metric tonnes of cocaine.
• Most recently, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf participated in Operation CARIBBE from January to March 2025.

Operation AMARNA

• Effective 01 April 2025, Operation AMARNA replaced Operations ARTEMIS and IMPACT, as part of Canada's contribution to strengthening peace and security in the Middle East.
• Operation AMARNA allows Canada to adjust its footprint in the Middle East, reflecting the prioritization of the defence of Canada.
• The main pillars of Operation AMARNA are defence diplomacy and crisis response preparedness.

Operation HORIZON

• Operation HORIZON is the military mission implementing the defence elements of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• This operation also demonstrates the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)'s ability to sustain naval operations in the Indo-Pacific Region.
• Canadian patrol frigate HMCS Ville de Québec is currently deploying to the Indo-Pacific region and has joined the UK's multinational Carrier Strike Group, integrating into several phases of their deployment to the region.

Select Continental Operations & Activities

• Operation LENTUS: This requires a request for assistance. It is the CAF's response to natural disasters in Canada.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): The CAF has primary responsibility for providing aeronautical SAR services (search for downed aircraft). The CAF is responsible for the effective operation of this coordinated aeronautical and maritime SAR system.
• NORAD: Binational (Canada/U.S.) military command responsible for aerospace warning and control, and maritime warning.

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River-Class Destroyer

• To meet the demands of a rapidly evolving and intensifying security environment, the RCD is a next-generation warship that will enable Canada to continue monitoring and defending its own waters and make significant contributions to naval operations abroad alongside our allies.
• The RCD will replace the capabilities found in both the retired Iroquois-class destroyers (4 ships) and the Halifax-class frigates (12 ships) with a single, modern and capable combat ship to meet multiple threats on both the open ocean and in the highly complex coastal environment. The RCD will provide sailors with the modern capabilities needed to perform their operational duties.
• Together with the upcoming Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishers and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels, the RCDs will form the core of the future RCN surface fleet. The construction of the RCD represents an important contribution to the Government of Canada's efforts to revitalize the Canadian shipbuilding industry.
• This initiative will not only enhance Canada's naval capabilities but will be a catalyst for economic growth and job creation. Shipbuilding projects are fostering innovation across the country and pushing Canada to the forefront of maritime technology.
• The RCD Implementation contract is estimated to contribute $719.3 million annually to Canada's GDP, and create or maintain approximately 5,250 jobs annually until 2039.
• The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is not just about constructing vessels; it's about crafting instruments of power projection and resilience. Each project is a testament to the commitment to excellence and adaptability in the face of evolving maritime challenges. With the rapidly evolving geopolitical environment, the RCD is at the core of the government's commitment to revitalizing Canada's marine industry through the NSS.
• The RCD initiative will be a long-term capability investment that contributes to Canada's efforts to achieve NATO's 2% of GDP defence investment benchmark and helps achieve the 20% capital investment target associated with this 2% commitment.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

• We are acquiring modern military equipment to keep Canadians safe and protected, and to support the security of our international allies and partners.
• The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) will provide the CAF with the modern equipment it needs to conduct intelligence and surveillance missions in support of domestic and international operations, and in support of civilian authorities.
• It will provide the CAF with the ability to conduct long endurance surveillance missions over significant distances, using a variety of sensors. This will enable airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, with near-real time information.
• It will help the CAF monitor Canada's large territory and long coastline. It will also support special security events such as the G7, and CAF operations in support of civilian authorities, such as responses to forest fires and floods.
• The same model (MQ-9B) is being acquired by several of Canada's Allies, including the UK, Belgium, and Denmark, with several other NATO allies expected to follow suit. Canada is collaborating with these nations through the MQ-9 International Cooperation Support Partnership. Increased interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces greatly improves Canada's ability to fulfill its NORAD and NATO commitments.

Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement Project

• On 01 December 2016, a contract valued at $2.9 billion (including taxes), was awarded to Airbus Defense and Space for the purchase of 16 CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft, a training center, and in-service support items. These new aircraft will replace the RCAF's existing fleet of Fixed Wing Search and Rescue aircraft.
• The new fleet will carry out critical life-saving search-and-rescue missions across Canada, including in the Arctic, and will enable operating in all weather conditions, including reduced visibility and at long range (more than 40 kilometres away). This will also reduce the on-scene search time, enabling a more timely and effective response.
• The CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft will begin conducting search-and-rescue operations out of Comox, British Columbia, this spring. Delivery of the final aircraft will take place following the completion of certification and qualification activities.

Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

• Canada has committed to renewing its submarine fleet with under-ice capable submarines.
• Submarines are a key element of a balanced fleet that will enable the RCN to project power far from Canada's shores.
• The next fleet of submarines must meet a three-ocean requirement. The fleet will be capable of conducting operations in the Indo-Pacific region, executing NATO missions in the North Atlantic, and enduring sustained operations in the High Arctic. With climate change and melting sea ice predicted to expose more of Canada's Arctic in the coming decades, we need enhanced presence and surveillance in the face of increased shipping in the North.
• The renewal and expansion of the submarine fleet will contribute to defending Canada, the Arctic, and the collective defence of North America through NORAD. Interoperability with the U.S. Navy is an important consideration so that Canada's naval fleet has the increased and modern capabilities needed to detect, deter and defend against threats to or attacks on Canada and North America in partnership with the United States, including through NORAD.

Arctic Over the Horizon Radar

• Given rapidly evolving air and maritime threats to North America, including from a wide range of advanced air and missile capabilities, the Defence Team is moving quickly to enable the rapid development of an Arctic OTHR system as part of Canada's plan to modernize its NORAD capabilities.
• Canada has determined that a technology partnership with Australia, which currently operates one of the most advanced such capabilities in the world, would provide the best solution for Canada's North, and to deliver initial capability to CAF and NORAD commanders as quickly as possible.
• This project will provide advanced early warning, enable faster detection and decision making for the CAF about airborne threats, and provide long-range surveillance to meet Canada's domestic and continental security needs.
• While this partnership would allow Canada to leverage the same core technology and operational principles as Australia, it would need to be adapted to address the unique challenges of Arctic surveillance. These adaptations may include modifications for extreme environmental conditions and coverage of remote northern regions.
• The radar sites will be based in Southern Ontario where up to four areas will be required for the system's transmitters and receivers. Potential locations are under review and further analysis and evaluation is ongoing. It will not be possible to provide a more precise estimate until this work, negotiations with Australia, and other analysis is complete.

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