The mission of DND and the CAF is to provide combat-effective, multi-purpose forces at home and abroad to protect Canada and Canadians.
Rollover each phrase to learn more about what the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence do to achieve their mission. (View print version)
Defend Canada
The Canadian Armed Forces defend Canada by:
- Providing surveillance of Canadian territory and air and maritime approaches.
- Maintaining search and rescue response capabilities that are able to reach those in distress anywhere in Canada on a 24/7 basis.
- Assisting civil authorities in responding to a wide range of threats - from natural disasters to terrorist attacks.
Defend North America
The Canadian Armed Forces contribute to the defence of North America by:
- Conducting daily continental operations (including through North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD)).
- Carrying out bilateral training and exercises with the United States.
- Responding to crises.
- Remaining interoperable with the US military.
Contribute to International Peace and Security
The Canadian Armed Forces contribute to international peace and security by:
- Participating in multilateral operations through international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and through coalitions of like-minded countries.
- Supporting humanitarian-relief efforts and helping to restore conflict-devastated areas.
- Participating in confidence-building measures such as arms-control programs.
Support System
The Department of National Defence works as a support system for the CAF operations in its activities in Canada and elsewhere by providing:
- Local or base support services
- Operational support services
- Corporate support services
