Vision, mission, raison d'être and operating context

Vision

Deliver the ready, resilient, and relevant forces required to meet the fundamental responsibility of the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) – the defence of Canada and assertion of its sovereignty.

Raison d'être

In 2024, Canada released its updated defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free (ONSAF): A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence, which outlines Canada's plan to ensure the CAF remains ready, resilient and relevant in the context of global instability and geopolitical uncertainty. DND and the CAF continue to implement this vision for defence in which Canada is:

• Strong at home, with a military asserting our sovereignty, particularly in the Arctic and northern regions, and ready to provide assistance to civil authorities when Canadians are faced with natural disasters and other emergencies or in need of search and rescue support;
• Secure in North America, contributing to the shared defence of the continent with the United States and working together on shared priorities across domains: sea, land, air, space and cyber, and through a modernized North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); and
• Engaged in the world, with the CAF making reliable and valuable contributions to our alliances and partnerships, particularly in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, in support of a more stable, peaceful world.

The National Defence Act (NDA) establishes DND and the CAF as separate entities, operating within an integrated National Defence Headquarters, as they pursue their primary responsibility of providing defence for Canada and Canadians.

Mandate and role

The Department has an essential relationship with Veterans Affairs Canada, as demonstrated by the Minister of Veterans Affairs' dual role as the Associate Minister of National Defence. This position is established under the NDA. The Associate Minister is responsible for defence files, as mandated by the Prime Minister (PM), with the specific priority of ensuring a seamless transition for CAF members leaving the military.

The Minister of National Defence (MND) is advised by the Deputy Minister (DM), who is appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The DM is the Minister's most senior civilian advisor, and is authorized under the law to carry out, on the Minister's behalf, many aspects of the management and direction of the Department. The DM is responsible for policy advice, departmental management, interdepartmental coordination, international defence relations, public service renewal, federal-provincial relations, and portfolio management. Under the Financial Administration Act, the DM is designated as an Accounting Officer with the responsibility of ensuring financial oversight and the prudent management of allocated resources and is accountable before parliamentary committees to provide explanations on matters for which the DM is responsible.

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the primary provider of military advice to the Government of Canada. The CDS has direct responsibility for the command, control and administration of the CAF, morale and welfare, personnel support programs of members and their families, and is appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The CDS advises the MND on issues such as current and future military requirements, force capabilities, possible courses of action, and the consequences of undertaking (or failing to undertake) various military activities. The CDS is also responsible for maintaining international military relations with Canada's allies and partners. The CDS is accountable to the Minister for the conduct of all CAF activities, as well as for the CAF's readiness and ability to fulfill military commitments and obligations undertaken by the Government of Canada. The CDS is also the advisor to the PM and Cabinet on major military developments and issues.

For more general information about the Department, see the corporate information section of this report. For more information on the PM's direction to all Ministers on the Government's priorities, see the May 2025 Mandate Letter.

Operating Context

National Defence policies and activities are informed by the evolving security context in which the CAF operates. ONSAF recognizes that the threats and challenges identified in Strong, Secure, Engaged are intensifying and evolving more quickly than anticipated. ONSAF identifies three key trends that will impact Canadian security and prosperity in the coming years:

1. Climate change and its destabilizing impacts on our Arctic and North;
2. Challenges to the international order, with strategic competition in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific and instability around the world; and
3. The changing character of conflict, defined by rapid advances in technology.

In response, Canada is prioritizing the defence of its territory, especially the Arctic and the Northern regions, by investing in a ready, resilient and relevant CAF. Canada's commitment to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defence by 2035 will strengthen the foundations of the CAF by driving recruitment and retention, improving defence infrastructure, sustaining core fleets, and fortifying our digital backbone. These investments reinforce Canada's commitment to strengthening continental defence through continued implementation of the NORAD modernization plan announced in June 2022. These investments will enhance the CAF's ability to detect, deter and defeat evolving threats across domains, including through NORAD's aerospace and maritime warning responsibilities.

National Defence is also working to integrate the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) into the Defence portfolio, enhancing Canada's ability to respond to emerging threats. This integration will strengthen Canada's maritime domain awareness and improve coordination with other domestic security and intelligence partners. At the same time, the CCG will continue to deliver the essential maritime programs and services that Canadians rely on every day.

National Defence will also advance a Defence Industrial Strategy that will deliver a modern defence industrial base that provides critical capabilities to the CAF and its allies, while driving innovation, investment, good paying jobs and economic growth for all Canadians. These unprecedented levels of investments in the Defence Team will intersect with the Canadian economy and result in secure, timely, and reliable access to the capabilities needed to defend the country, protect national sovereignty, and meet current and future threats while catalyzing the development of new industrial capabilities. The Defence Team will work closely with the Defence Investment Agency, with a focus on identifying capability and technical requirements for the CAF as well as managing, maintaining and integrating new equipment once delivered to ensure it is mission-ready and effectively deployed.

These efforts will also reinforce the defence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's northern and western flanks and ensure North America remains a secure base from which to support allies during crisis or conflict. Together, these initiatives will help Canada maintain a world-class military capable of deploying and sustaining operations across the full spectrum of military activity, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to high-intensity conventional warfare. Moreover, deepened materiel and industrial partnerships with Allies in Europe will advance interoperability, strengthen reliable supply chains, and expand opportunities for Canadian firms in the defence and dual-use sectors.