The Department of National
Defence has announced that it is launching public consultations in the
development of a new defence policy for Canada. This includes a Defence
Policy Review public consultation paper, a website and
even an e-workbook to be
filled in.
Canadian Defence Matters is
attempting to come up with some answers
to the ten questions contained in the public consultation paper.
Although the Defence Policy
Review bundles both the second and third questions under the heading of
“Questions relating to defending Canada
and North America”, the question of “What roles should the Canadian Armed Forces
play domestically, including in support of civilian authorities?” is
sufficiently complex to warrant a separate entry and response.
The Federal government of Canada, through
the Canadian Armed Forces, has genuine domestic responsibilities. One of the
most important responsibilities is to insure that Canada should never find itself in
a position where, as a consequence of past decisions, the defence of our
national territory has become the responsibility of others.
At a minimum, the Forces
should maintain forces, both regular and reserve, capable of;
·
Mounting
effective responses to emerging situations in our maritime areas of
jurisdiction, our airspace, or within our territory, including the North.
·
Having the
capability to demonstrate, on a regular basis, the ability to monitor and
control activity within Canada's
territory, airspace, and maritime areas of jurisdiction.
·
Maintaining a
capability to assist in mounting, at all times, an immediate and effective
response to terrorist incidents
·
Being prepared to
contribute to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at short notice and
to sustain this effort for as long as necessary.
·
Being able to
respond to requests for Aid of the Civil Power and sustain this response for as
long as necessary.
·
Providing the
assets necessary to assist, on a routine basis, other government departments in
achieving various other national goals in such areas as fisheries protection,
drug interdiction, and environmental protection.
·
Assisting in
maintaining a national search and rescue capability.
Having said this, it is still
important to remember that in Canada
maintenance of "law and order" is the right and responsibility of the
provinces. It is for this reason that the political authority empowered to
requisition military aid is therefore a provincial Solicitor General, as
provided for under the Emergencies Act. Based on this law a request for military
assistance is by a provincial Solicitor General directly to the Chief of the
Defence Staff (not to the federal government of Canada) who is obliged by law to
execute the request. However, the Chief of the Defence Staff alone can
determine the nature and level of forces to be committed.
The Canadian Forces do not
replace the civil power; they assist it in the maintenance of law and order.
While the military is legally free to decide how to deal with an issue in
regard to which it has been called out, in most cases Canadian Forces will find
they are working under the direction of the police forces or government of the
province that has requested its aid.
It is also true that while
the Canadian Armed Forces make an important contribution to the surveillance
and control of Canadian territory, airspace, and maritime areas, responsibility
for many of the Government's activities in these areas of jurisdiction lies
with civilian agencies such as the Department of Transport and the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans.
Taking a “whole of
government” approach means that in most domestic situations the Department of
National Defence is not the lead agency. Not only can other departments of
government accomplish most domestic tasks more efficiently, it would lead to a
decrease in military effectiveness if the Canadian Armed Forces should devote
too much of their limited resources to non-military tasks.
It is for these reasons that
the Canadian Armed Forces should be trained and equipped for military tasks, not
constabulary duties, and that the domestic support of civilian authorities
should not be at the expense of the ability to fulfill the minimum requirements
previously cited for the defence of Canadian sovereignty but rather they should
enhance those abilities.
Defence Policy Review Public
Consultation Paper
Defence Policy Review
Have your say: Defence Policy
Review 2016
DEFENCE
POLICY REVIEW.
