Canada First Defence Strategy

Six Core Missions

The global security environment has seen significant change in recent years. We have witnessed regional tensions escalate quickly into conflict and natural disasters turn into humanitarian crises. Canada requires a military with the flexibility to respond to such challenges while continuing to carry out essential, day-to-day missions. The Government has accordingly established a level of ambition that will see the Forces carry out the following missions, potentially all at the same time:

1. Conduct daily domestic and continental operations, including in the Arctic and through NORAD

2. Support a major international event in Canada, such as the 2010 Olympics

3. Respond to a major terrorist attack

4. Support civilian authorities during a crisis in Canada such as a natural disaster

5. Lead and/or conduct a major international operation for an extended period

6. Deploy forces in response to crises elsewhere in the world for shorter periods