Activities – Domestic

Operation LENTUS

The Canadian Armed Forces stand ready to answer the call to assist communities across Canada affected by climate-related disasters.
For example, in January, approximately 400 women and men in uniform were deployed in Newfoundland and Labrador to respond to record-breaking snowfall.
Personnel assisted with snow removal, and provided required transportation to refuge locations and warming centers.
They also provided transportation for essential employees to and from hospitals and emergency centers.
In 2019, National Defence deployed approximately 3,000 military personnel across Canada to help local authorities respond to hurricanes, floods and forest fires.
We are always extremely proud of the work our women and men in uniform do to help Canadians across the country in their time of need.

In 2020:
- 400 women and men deployed to Newfoundland and Labrador to respond to a record-breaking snowstorm.
- 806 snow removal tasks completed (691 snow removal and 115 snow removal-medical.)
In 2019:
- 5 deployments to respond to hurricanes, floods, and forest fires.
- Approximately 3,000 military personnel deployed to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, including an evacuation of Pikangikum and Bearskin Lake First Nations in Ontario.

Operation LENTUS is the Canadian Armed Forces response to natural disasters in Canada.
Provinces and territories can submit a request for military assistance to the federal Minister of Public Safety, when there is a need for unique military skills and capabilities. Following the receipt of the request, the Minister of National Defence makes the decision to employ the Canadian Armed Forces.
Operation LENTUS follows an established plan of action to support provincial and territorial authorities as well as other Federal Government departments. This plan can be adapted to multiple situations. These might take the form of forest fires, floods, ice and snow storms, or hurricanes.
The objectives of Operation LENTUS are to mitigate the effect of Natural Disasters on the populations by assisting federal, provincial, and local authorities. This includes reassuring the Canadian public through CAF presence and activity, providing humanitarian assistance to help prevent and ease suffering, and ultimately save lives.
CAF personnel are prepared to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies, and help affected Canadians in need.

The Canadian Armed Forces deployed approximately 400 personnel in response to a request for assistance from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in close coordination with Public Safety Canada.
Tasks the Canadian Armed Forces was asked to perform in their assistance to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador:
- The assurance of public welfare (i.e., wellness checks);
- Opening civilian roadways;
- Removal of snow blocking access to, or negatively affecting critical infrastructure;
- Local snow removal for persons as coordinated by authorities;
- Transport of persons to refuge locations and warming centers as required; and
- Transport essential employees to and from hospitals and emergency center.

Version 5; 2020-02-25 – Source: OP LENTUS QP NOTE 2020-01-27

The Canadian Rangers are a vital component of the Reserve Force, conducting surveillance, patrols, training, and operations in isolated, coastal, and Northern areas of Canada.
That is why we have increased their size and geographic footprint with 5 new patrols in 2018 and 10 new patrols in 2019.
This will further enhance the important role the Rangers play in remote and isolated communities across Canada, and strengthen our relations with Indigenous communities in the North.

We are ensuring the Canadian Rangers have access to the modern equipment they need to do their jobs.
In summer 2018, we delivered new C-19 rifles to the Rangers.

The Canadian Rangers provide patrols and detachments for national security and public safety missions in sparsely settled northern, coastal and isolated areas of Canada.

In 2015, the Canadian Armed Forces launched a comprehensive review of the Canadian Rangers’ organization and structure. This was broken down into four phases:
- Phase 1: Organization and Policy Review
- Phase 2: Command and Control, Staffing
- Phase 3: Financial and Personnel Administration
- Phase 4: Resource and Infrastructure
Based on a detailed analysis, it was recommended that the Canadian Rangers increase to an additional 29 Patrols and 11 Sections between 2018 and 2022.
Funding was requested and approved for an additional 12 Patrols in 2018-19 and 9 Patrols in 2019-20, with the remaining growth expected in future years.

The new C-19 Canadian Ranger rifle started being issued in April 2018. The rifle is based on the Finnish-designed SAKO Tikka T3 compact tactical rifle, and is being manufactured by Colt Canada in Kitchener, Ontario.
The current Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle will be phased out. The Cadets have been authorized by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff to retain 9,600 rifles for drills and ceremonial activities, and the Treasury Board Secretariat has authorized the donation of rifles to Rangers who qualify.

Version 5; 2020-02-24 – Source: CoW Note 2019-12-07