National Defence
How National Defence spent its budget in fiscal year 2024-25, shown as net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II.
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are responsible for defending Canada, contributing to continental defence in cooperation with the United States, and participating in international operations and alliances such as NATO. The portfolio also includes the Communications Security Establishment, which provides signals intelligence and cybersecurity capabilities, along with independent bodies that review military grievances and complaints against military police.
In fiscal year 2024–25, National Defence recorded total spending of $35.03B, representing 6.4% of federal spending on this basis.
Spending is dominated by the Department of National Defence, with a much smaller share attributed to the Communications Security Establishment, and only minor amounts for the Military Grievances External Review Committee and the Military Police Complaints Commission. Among transfer payments, the largest categories include contributions in support of the Military Training and Cooperation Program, contributions to the NATO Military Budget under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program, contributions to the NATO Security Investment Program, contributions in support of the Capital Assistance Program, and contributions in support of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program.
Department Spending
In FY 2024-25,
$35.03B
was spent by National Defence
In FY 2024-25,
6.4%
of federal spending was by National Defence
How did National Defence spend its budget in 2024-25?
Spending by entity, FY 2024-25
Department of National Defence
Communications Security Establishment
Military Grievances External Review Committee
Military Police Complaints Commission
$33.92B
$1.09B
$8.4M
$5.8M
National Defence’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
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 | $1,160,531,946 |
| Contributions | North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program: NATO Military Budget (NATO Programs) | $232,264,342 |
| Contributions | North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program: NATO Security Investment Program (NATO Programs) | $92,949,028 |
| Contributions | Contributions in support of the Capital Assistance Program | $41,914,000 |
| Contributions | Contributions in support of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program | $31,377,992 |
| Contributions | Contributions in support of the Remediation of the North Bay Jack Garland Airport Site | $6,659,080 |
| Contributions | Contributions for Funding of Temporary Water Treatment Units for the City of Saguenay Program | $4,960,257 |
| Contributions | North Atlantic Treaty Organization Contribution Program: NATO Other Activities | $4,803,841 |
| Contributions | Contribution to the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association | $4,000,000 |
| Grants | Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security Grant program | $2,890,768 |
| Contributions | Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security Contribution Program | $2,250,000 |
| Grants | Grant in support of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program | $2,240,000 |
| Grants | Community Support for Sexual Misconduct Survivors Program | $1,637,090 |
| Grants | Grants in support of the Indigenous Reconciliation Program | $1,049,999 |
| Grants | Grants in support of the Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program | $648,962 |
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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.
