Defence Minister Addresses Troops in Vancouver
News Release
June 9, 2017 - Vancouver, BC - Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces
Canada's new defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, reinforces the Government of Canada's commitment to strongly supporting our women and men in uniform and the critical role they play in making Canada strong at home, secure in North America, and engaged in the world.
Our people, across all ranks, and from all walks of life, are our most important asset, and they are at the core of the new policy. Families are also integral to the success of the military. They are the main source of support for Canada's military members - they are the strength behind the uniform.
Today Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan met with CAF personnel at the Beatty Street Drill Hall and the Jericho Garrison in Vancouver, BC, to discuss the important role families play in supporting our women and men, as well as new initiatives for members and their families outlined in Canada's defence policy.
Strong, Secure, Engaged is an ambitious yet realistic policy that will deliver new investments to support and assist members and their families where and when they are needed most. We will modernize family support programs, such as Military Family Resource Centres, to provide better support to families when members are deploying or during periods of absence. A Comprehensive Military Family Plan will ease the burden of moving and help stabilize family life for members and their families who frequently have to relocate. We will also transform the transition process to ensure all of our women and men will be taken care of as they transition back into the CAF following illness or injury, or out of the military and into civilian life at the conclusion of service.
Additionally, as Minister Sajjan announced in May, the government will provide federal tax relief on the military salaries of all CAF personnel, up to the level of Lieutenant-Colonel, deployed on named international operations as designated by the Chief of the Defence Staff.
While in Vancouver, Minister Sajjan also spoke with local business leaders and members of the community at the Vancouver Board of Trade, where he highlighted the investments in the Canadian Armed Forces and its people, as well as the long-term benefits to Canadians and Canadian industry that will result from Canada's new defence policy.
Through Strong, Secure, Engaged, we will ensure families have access to the support and services they need and deserve, to cope with the unique challenges and stresses of military life.
Quotes
"When a Canadian signs up to serve Canada in the Armed Forces, their family signs up along with them - and we must not take that lightly. Through our new defence policy, we are putting our support back where it belongs - with our women and men in uniform, and their families. I'm proud of the investments we're making and look forward to implementing these much needed changes for the military family community."
Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan
Quick Facts
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Through Canada's Defence Policy, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces will also:
- Transform the process for CAF members who are leaving the service, or who are returning to service after being ill or injured. This will be done through the creation a 1,200-person CAF Transition Group which will include specialized staff and holding positions for ill and injured who are preparing to return to duty or transition out of the Canadian Armed Forces.
- Invest $144.8 million over 20 years to support Military Family Resource Centres.
- Provide better support to families when members are deploying or during periods of absence by modernizing family support programs, such as Military Family Resource Centres.
- Better support families through the Comprehensive Military Family Plan, providing improved access to psychological services through social workers and referrals to community programs and services to better address mental health issues, and improved coordination of services across provinces to ease the burden of moving.
- Improve care and deepen our knowledge in the area of mental health and implement progressive, evidence-based practices and technology, and cooperative relationships with world-class leaders in mental health.
- Implement teams at Wings and Bases across Canada, in partnership with Military Family Resource Centres, to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
- Invest $198.2 million in a Total Health and Wellness Strategy to expand wellness beyond traditional healthcare to include promotion, prevention, treatment, and support, and provide a greater range of health and wellness services and programs.
- Increase the size of the Regular Force by 3,500 (to 71,500) and the Reserve Force by 1,500 (to 30,000) members. The Reserves will also become more integrated into the total force, providing agile and effective full-time capability through part-time service.
- Provide the funding required for the full complement of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants.
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The launch of Strong, Secure, Engaged concludes the most comprehensive review process in Canadian defence and security history - a year-long review process that included open and transparent consultations with Canadians, parliamentarians, defence experts, allies, and partners.
Associated Links
Contacts
Jordan Owens
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: jordan.owens@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca