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Canada Command

Under Canada Command, Canada and continental North America are now a single theater of operations for the Canadian Forces, offering a single point of contact for the spectrum of defence and security partners. Prior to the establishment of Canada Command, responsibility for Canadian Forces routine operations in Canada and its approaches largely was delegated to the three services-the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Given its practical regional structures, the Army was granted the lead for most contingency operations within Canada and was the main regional point of contact for civil authorities. A small operations cell within National Defence Headquarters provided overall coordination and some longer term planning.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, and natural disasters like the Ice Storm (1998) and Hurricane Katrina (2005), focused attention on the need for more coherent defence structures in Canada and North America. The need for greater coordination with government departments and agencies, as well as cross-border coordination with the United States, also became apparent. To address the new security environment, and to facilitate coordination with law enforcement agencies and civil authorities, Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff envisioned a single operational commander responsible for all domestic and continental Canadian Forces operations. Canada Command was the result.

Formed on Feb. 1, 2006, Canada Command is the Canadian Forces organization responsible for all routine and contingency Canadian Forces operations in Canada and continental North America. Canada Command will conduct operations to deter, prevent, preempt, and defeat threats and aggression aimed at Canada, within its area of responsibility. When requested, Canada Command will provide military assistance to civil authorities, including consequence management, in order to protect and defend Canada. Canada Command will be the operational link with U.S. Northern Command.

The command's headquarters is located in Ottawa. Ten subordinate organizations report to Canada Command: six Regional Joint Task Forces (RJTFs), three Search and Rescue Regions, and the Combined Force Air Component Commander. These organizations are delegated authority to task available Canadian Forces resources within their areas of responsibility in support of domestic or continental operations. The commanders of the six RJTFs are responsible for military planning and response in their geographic areas of responsibility. During emergencies, they have the immediate authority to task Navy and Army assets located within their region. On behalf of Canada Command, the Combined Force Air Component Commander tasks Air Force support, assisted by its Regional Air Component Elements co-located in each regional headquarters, as well as a detachment at Canada Command headquarters.