National Defence
How National Defence spent its budget in fiscal year 2023-24, shown as net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II.
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are responsible for ensuring Canada's security and defence through military operations, infrastructure management, and personnel support. Established in 1923 under the National Defence Act, DND oversees the defence budget, military procurement, and readiness planning, while the CAF executes domestic and international operations. The department sets strategic defence policy and works with international allies, including NATO and NORAD, and administers military health services, housing programs, and recruitment to support its personnel.
Department Spending
In FY 2023-24,
$34.49B
was spent by National Defence
In FY 2023-24,
6.6%
of federal spending was by National Defence
The Department of National Defence spent $34.49B in fiscal year (FY) 2024, or 6.6% of the $521.4 billion in total federal spending. This ranks it among the largest federal departments by expenditure, with spending driven largely by personnel costs, military procurement, and operational readiness.
Spending by entity, FY 2023-24
Department of National Defence
Communications Security Establishment
Military Grievances External Review Committee
Military Police Complaints Commission
$33.47B
$1.01B
$7.8M
$5.6M
Federal defence spending shifts over time with geopolitical tensions, defence modernization needs, and emerging threats such as cyber warfare, and events such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Arctic sovereignty disputes can influence military spending. Measured as a share of the federal budget, DND has edged down over the past decade, from roughly 7.2% in 2014 to 6.6% in 2024.
National Defence’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
Almost all of this spending is reported under the Department of National Defence itself, which funds the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force; the Communications Security Establishment is the main separate entity in the portfolio, with two small military-oversight bodies making up the remainder. The department is led by the Minister of National Defence, a member of cabinet appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is responsible for defence policy, military operations, and procurement.
How did National Defence spend its budget in 2023-24?
Line items
Every transfer-payment (grant and contribution) program, in dollars. These are the named programs behind the transfer-payments object in the chart above. Search, sort, and download the full table.
| Category | Description | Amount ▼ |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions | Contributions in Support of the Military Training and Cooperation Program | $773,094,697 |
| Contributions | NATO Military Budget (NATO Programs) | $184,485,432 |
| Contributions | NATO Security Investment Program (NATO Programs) | $94,818,533 |
| Contributions | Contributions in support of the Capital Assistance Program | $35,950,000 |
| Contributions | Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program | $14,401,144 |
| Contributions | NATO Other Activities | $4,071,207 |
| Contributions | Contribution to the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association | $3,875,561 |
| Grants | Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security Grant program | $2,760,995 |
| Contributions | Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security Contribution Program | $2,250,000 |
| Grants | Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program | $2,075,000 |
| Grants | Community Support for Sexual Misconduct Survivors Program | $1,994,208 |
| Contributions | Remediation of the North Bay Jack Garland Airport Site | $1,352,477 |
| Contributions | Temporary water treatment units for the City of Saguenay | $890,299 |
| Contributions | Payments under the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act | $576,675 |
| Grants | Air Cadet League of Canada | $500,000 |
Explore other federal departments
National Defence figures are net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II, and will not match the Volume I consolidated headline totals. See the methodology for details.
