Departmental Overview

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces (DND/CF) has a vital role to play in contributing to the achievement of national priorities, including the Government On-Line (GOL) initiative. In 2001, the Department established the National Defence On-Line (NDOL) Program to identify opportunities to conduct its business with the public, other government departments, agencies and industry partners on-line.

First and foremost, the role of the Canadian Forces is to protect Canadians at home and abroad. The CF is a leader in the application of technology to improve the ability to meet our national and international commitments with small but highly effective forces. An important focus of the NDOL Program is on supporting delivery of the information management / information technology (IM/IT) infrastructure and on-line capabilities required for DND/CF to interoperate with allied forces and with Canadians, industry and other government departments.

Migration of DND service delivery and business processes to an on-line, network-centric model is consistent with the current Defence Information Management Strategy 2020. DND/CF has adopted the Internet as a major communications and business tool. Significant benefits have been realized by pursuing on-line business, public affairs, operations, e-commerce, e-learning and communications opportunities.

Through the Communication Security Establishment (CSE), the Department has provided specialized security advice and support to the Secure Channel initiative led by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). Similarly, the CF is building a much greater capacity to provide operational forces with timely and accurate information and direction. Called “Network Enabled Operations”, this approach results in faster decisions and more effective operations.

In meeting the challenges it faces, the DND/CF must concentrate its time, energy and resources on what matters most: investing in the military capabilities that best serve Canada's national interests. Defence is the only function of government that falls exclusively under federal jurisdiction. National Defence is responsible to the Canadian public for the protection of Canadian sovereignty, the defence of Canada's national interests, and the promotion of Canadian values abroad. The federal government is committed to ensuring that the Canadian Forces can fulfil Canada's defence commitments.

For more information contact the National Defence On-Line Program Manager

National Defence On-Line (NDOL) Program

National Defence On-Line Vision

National Defence will conduct its business with the public and industry online, consistent with Government direction and Defence operational effectiveness and business efficiency.

National Defence On-line Framework

DND/CF will continue to migrate key business and operational services to an on-line service delivery approach. Continuous change and improvement is accepted as a business necessity in order to achieve the vision and objectives of the Department's strategy as expressed in the document “Shaping the Future of Canadian Defence: A Strategy for 2020”, June 1999. Much has been accomplished to-date and many initiatives are presently underway that are being reported as components of the NDOL Program. Five key service areas have been identified and submitted to Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) as part of the ‘Departmental GOL Planning and Reporting Requirements, these are:

Communications;

Emergency Management;

Canadian Forces Recruiting;

Materiel Acquisition and Support; and

Information Technology Security.

In addition, many functional areas of the Department have added member services to their internal web sites. The availability of on-line access to personal and pay information, the ability to order military uniform items, and access personnel support programs over the Internet greatly enhances the quality of live for CF members.