Under the Canada First Defence Strategy, the first role of the Canadian Armed Forces is to defend Canada. The Canadian Armed Forces is responsible for:
To carry out this mission, the Canadian Armed Forces:
Defending Canada and protecting Canadians is the Canadian Armed Forces' top priority.
The six regional joint task forces of Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) maintain a continuous watch over Canada's land mass and air and maritime approaches - an area of more than 10 million square kilometers - and keep the Canadian Armed Forces aware of security threats and other concerns in or approaching Canadian territory, including the North. This vigilance permits the Canadian Armed Forces to take action against threats before they reach Canadian shores, and allows the Canadian Armed Forces to respond appropriately to contingencies and requests for assistance, anywhere in the country.
Through its regional joint task forces, CJOC stands ready 24/7 to plan, coordinate and lead operations that help civil authorities respond to threats ranging from natural disasters to terrorist attacks. Through its three Search and Rescue Regions (SRR), CJOC provides SAR response capabilities that can reach those in distress anywhere in Canada.
CJOC is committed to:
This commitment includes working with bi-national and international security partners and delivering Canadian Armed Forces support to operations resulting from security threats or crises anywhere in North America and its air and maritime approaches, including the North.
Canadian Armed Forces operations in the North directly support the six core missions of the Canada First Defence Strategy. Northern operations strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces' capabilities in the region and exercise Canada's sovereignty over its Arctic region as described in the Government of Canada Northern Strategy.
Although Canada's armed services have always been active in the North, a new directive on the Canadian Armed Forces in Canada's North, issued in April 2011, provided fresh guidance from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Deputy Minister (DM) of National Defence.
The CDS/DM Directive confirmed objectives and set out responsibilities and tasks designed to enhance northern defence capabilities. These enhancements include:
Canadian Armed Forces operations in the North have the following specific objectives:
Each year, the Canadian Armed Forces conduct at least three major operations in the North. Their precise objectives vary, but they share three objectives:
The Canadian Armed Forces also conduct regular resupply and maintenance operations in the high Arctic.
Current recurring operations in the North are: