Domestic and Continental Defence

• The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have approximately 300 full-time military personnel in the North, alongside over 1,400 Canadian Rangers, who provide assistance to northern operations and activities.
• The CAF further maintains a year-round presence in the Arctic through operations, exercises, and training activities.
• In fact, in early March more than 200 CAF personnel worked together with armed forces members from the United States, Belgium, France, and Germany as part of Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT.
• As part of this training exercises our members conducted activities including joint long-range patrols, complex logistical support, and under-ice diving capabilities.
• Our members will participate in three additional Op NANOOK exercises in 2024, demonstrating the CAF’s presence and exercising Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.
• National Defence will continue to work to secure our northern regions and to develop intergovernmental, Indigenous, and multinational partnerships in the Arctic.

If pressed on delays for the Nanisivik Naval Facility:

• This facility is an asset for Canada, which will operate as a docking and refueling facility and will be used not only by Defence, but also by the Coast Guard.
• Infrastructure work in the Arctic poses many challenges, including a harsh climate and isolated work locations.
• National Defence is also mindful of the need to respect the environment and local communities.
• For instance, the Royal Canadian Navy has agreed with the Government of Nunavut to not break ice near the facility to preserve community access to frozen waters and protect wildlife.
• We are currently commissioning work at the facility, which will support the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and other government vessels.

If pressed on Inuvik Runway

• As part of our efforts to enhance capabilities in the North, National Defence has committed $230 million for a runway extension at the Inuvik Airport.
• The announced increase in the project’s cost is a result of delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, and rising material costs.
• National Defence supports the project and recognizes its importance for the region and for the local communities.

• Last month, I was honoured to have the opportunity to meet and see the Rangers at work.
• I also had the honour to break ground at the new National Defence Multipurpose facility in Yellownife, which, once complete, will enhance the mobility, reach and footprint of the Canadian Armed Forces in the North.
• This new facility will see the construction of a new headquarters building for the Canadian Rangers Patrol Group, as well as elements of the Joint Task Force (North).
• The construction of the facility will sustain roughly 520 jobs and is expected to be completed in winter 2026-27.
• Recognizing the important role the Rangers play in support of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces stood up the Canadian Rangers Enhancement team in June 2022, to improve the effectiveness of the Canadian Rangers.
• This team is reviewing the Rangers’ mission and tasks to update policies and processes, which will enhance the contribution and effectiveness of the Canadian Rangers.
• Further, the Canadian Army is completing an analysis of all components of the Canadian Rangers, including training, equipment, structure, staff, policies, and infrastructure.
• A master implementation plan to address outstanding issues is expected to be delivered this fiscal year (2024-25).
• We will continue to support the Canadian Rangers as they help safeguard our communities in those sparsely settled, remote, northern and isolated areas of Canada.

• We recognize that the willingness of the Canadian Rangers to use their personal equipment is an important force multiplier to Canadian Armed Forces Operations.
• It is critical that the Canadian Rangers receive timely compensation for the maintenance or repair of personal equipment that is damaged or lost in support of CAF activities.
• That is why a new, non-taxable, Compensation and Benefits Instruction to compensate the Canadian Rangers for the usage of personally owned equipment was put in place on August 1, 2023.
• This instruction provides compensation to the Canadian Rangers for the use of, and normal wear and tear on, their personally owned equipment when participating in military operations, training, or exercises.
• The CAF has also streamlined the loss or damages compensation claims process (ex. from Headquarters to regional division heads in the Army) to allow more immediate levels of authority in their chain of command to approve their compensation claims.
• This will significantly expedite reimbursement for the repair or replacement of the personal equipment used by Canadian Rangers.
• Further, as of April 1st, new policies are in place that allow Canadian Rangers to receive greater cash advances pending settlement of a claim, which will allow Rangers to re-equip themselves more promptly while the administration is finalized.
• This will allow Canadian Rangers to re-equip themselves more promptly while the administration is finalized, ensuring continued CAF operational capacity and avoiding Canadian Rangers having to front the funds and be reimbursed.

• We recognize that climate change has immediate and long-term implications for National Defence, including in the Arctic, which is warming at a pace about four times the global average.
• That is why Our North, Strong and Free acknowledges climate change and its destabilizing impacts on our Arctic and North.
• As climate change, technological advancements, economic interests, and geopolitical competition converge, the Arctic is increasing in strategic importance and the security challenges faced by our Northern communities are evolving.
• More frequent and severe natural disasters also increase operational demands on the Canadian Armed Forces, drawing personnel and resources away from scheduled training and equipment maintenance.
• In response to natural disasters, the Canadian Armed Forces is ready to support and serve alongside our federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners through Operation LENTUS, the military’s response to natural disasters in Canada.
• We are also addressing the risks and challenges posed by climate change across National Defence by pursuing concurrent adaptation and mitigation efforts.
• For instance, we are conducting climate change vulnerability and risk assessments to adapt to the impacts of climate change and make our infrastructure portfolio more resilient.
• In fact, National Defence has recently invested $55.6 million to upgrade 255 building at the Gagetown military base to reduce the carbon footprint of Defence infrastructure.
• In addition, a $19.7 million investment was announced to construct a solar farm at Gagetown. Once completed, these projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at Gagetown by about 11,900 tonnes per year.
• Additionally, we have worked with our Allies to establish a NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) in Montreal to better understand and address the security impacts of climate change, and to inform military planning and preparedness.
• CCASCOE reached initial operational capacity in October 2023, and is expected to achieve NATO accreditation and become fully staffed and operational by the end of 2024.

• Tabled on November 2, 2023, the DCSS outlines National Defence’s plan to achieve a sustainable vision for assets and operations in Canada and around the world, and for the first time includes a narrative on the nexus between climate change and security.
• In alignment with the NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan, the DCSS is organized under two key themes: climate change (mitigation, adaptation, awareness), and environmental sustainability. This includes 21 targets that were contributed from across the department and represent a National Defence-wide approach, such as:
• Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2025 from real property and conventional light-duty fleet and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Use 100% clean electricity, where available, by producing or purchasing renewable electricity by 2025.
• Assess 100% of eligible bases and wings to identify what upgrades and installations can best increase efficiency and resilience, and move 75% to the implementation phase by 2027.
• All new residential construction will be net-zero emissions, or net-zero-emissions-ready, and at least 40% less energy intensive than buildings constructed to current code requirements.