Minister of National Defence Supplementary Mandate Letter

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan received his Supplementary Mandate Letter from the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 15, 2021, which is available in full here: Minister of National Defence Supplementary Mandate Letter | Prime Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca)

While much of the letter is generic and common to other Ministers' Mandate Letters, the following bullet points are noteworthy to CNR readers, who may be interested to note "planned funding increases" under the SSE are still in place despite COVID-19, and is placed first in the list:

"In addition to the priorities set out in my mandate letter to you in 2019, as Minister of National Defence, you will implement on a priority basis the following commitments, as set out in the Speech from the Throne 2020 and building off the investments in the Fall Economic Statement 2020:

  • Ensure the Canadian Armed Forces have the capabilities and equipment required to uphold their responsibilities through continued implementation of Strong, Secure, Engaged, including new procurement, continued investment in infrastructure improvement and planned funding increases.
  • Continue to provide leadership to protect the health and safety of Canadian Armed Forces members at home and those currently deployed on missions, and ensure they can safely uphold their responsibilities within the COVID-19 context.
  • Continue to contribute to Canada’s response to COVID-19 by assisting with the set up and operation of the National Operations Centre for vaccine distribution to Canadians and, working with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to respond to requests for assistance from provincial and territorial authorities and Indigenous partners.
  • Continue to improve support for the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of National Defence to ensure a workplace characterized by professionalism, inclusion and valuing diversity:
    • Work with senior leaders of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces to address systemic racism and gender-based discrimination and eliminate barriers, as well as to establish and maintain a workplace free from harassment, discrimination and violence; and
    • Work with senior leaders to undertake ambitious efforts to increase diversity and facilitate the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, LGBTQ2 Canadians and persons with disabilities in the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, and continue work to achieve the goal of 25 per cent of Canadian Armed Forces members being women by 2026.
  • Continue to support the integrated government response led by the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs to protect Canada’s democratic institutions, including the federal electoral process, against foreign interference and disinformation, including cyber threats.
  • Support the Minister of Veterans Affairs to ensure that women, LGBTQ2, Indigenous, Black and racialized Veterans and Veterans with disabilities who are transitioning out of the Canadian Armed Forces receive support that meets their unique needs. This will include the use of disaggregated research and data to provide tailored programs and services to these Veterans."
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