Minister of National Defence’s statement in response to the Auditor General of Canada’s report on supplying the Canadian Armed Forces

Following the tabling of the Auditor General of Canada’s report on supplying the Canadian Armed Forces, the Minister of National Defence, Harjit S. Sajjan, issued the following statement.

July 8, 2020 – Ottawa (Ontario) – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Following the tabling of the Auditor General of Canada’s report on supplying the Canadian Armed Forces, the Minister of National Defence, Harjit S. Sajjan, issued the following statement:

“I welcome the Auditor General’s report on supplying the Canadian Armed Forces and accept all of the recommendations. We know strong supply chain management provides the necessary backbone for effective operations, which is why we have developed a holistic supply management approach that not only responds to the Auditor General’s report, but also modernizes our system and supports various Strong, Secure, Engaged initiatives.

Whether responding to emergencies at home or participating in dozens of ongoing missions in countries abroad, the Canadian Armed Forces continue to demonstrate the readiness, resilience, and resourcefulness required to succeed under demanding circumstances. It is also imperative that we, at the Department of National Defence, ensure that each and every member has the equipment they need to do their important work.

Our supply chain is flexible and able to meet emergency demand, as proven these past few months when the Defence team’s extensive experience helped supply the government’s emergency procurement needs related to the COVID-19 response, and ensure our members are ready should there be a second wave.

Already, we have made considerable improvements to how we manage our assets. We have made improvements to stocktaking, the reporting of inventory costs, and the oversight of supply work. We are also advancing a number of new management projects, such as procuring standardized barcoding technology and new electronic system capabilities, to further improve our performance.

It is important to note that the steps we are taking today are not final actions regarding the way we order, store and distribute equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces. As we move forward, we will enhance our data analytics capabilities and rely on real data to ensure we have the right supply chain approach for our ever-evolving requirements, and to help us better anticipate future needs.

These steps will make sure that we have the right equipment, in the right quantities, at the right places to meet the challenges we ask our members to face now and in the future.”

Associated link

2020 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada

Contacts

Floriane Bonneville
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca