Canada’s Military Lacks Strong Civilian Oversight and Accountability
A new, critical study is sounding the alarm on a fundamental pillar of Canadian democracy: the relationship between the military and the civilian government that directs it. The research, conducted by the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies, concludes that Canada’s framework for civilian oversight of the military is dangerously weak, lagging behind key allies and creating significant risks for accountability and governance.
This isn’t just an academic debate. The findings land amid a period of intense scrutiny for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), grappling with a profound cultural crisis linked to sexual misconduct, concerns about transparency, and questions about its chain of command. The study suggests these issues are not isolated but are symptomatic of a system where civilian leaders lack the tools, knowledge, and authority to effectively steer the military institution.
The Growing Gap in Civilian Control
The principle of civilian control over the military is a bedrock of modern democratic states. It ensures that the armed forces remain subordinate to elected officials, protecting against the misuse of power and aligning military action with public policy. However, the University of Ottawa study paints a picture of a system where this control has eroded or failed to evolve.
The core problem is two-fold: a significant knowledge deficit among civilian officials and a legislative framework that grants the military substantial autonomy.
The “Knowledge Deficit” in Defence Headquarters
One of the most striking findings is the dramatic decline in experienced civilian staff within the Department of National Defence (DND). The study notes that the number of public servants in the department has been slashed by half since the 1970s, even as the complexity of defence policy and procurement has skyrocketed. This has created a vacuum.
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An Outdated Legislative Framework
Compounding the knowledge gap is an antiquated National Defence Act. The study argues that the Act centralizes an extraordinary amount of authority in the hands of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), with limited checks from civilian officials. For instance, the CDS has wide-ranging powers over military justice, administration, and operations that are not subject to direct ministerial approval.
This structure stands in contrast to allies like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where civilian departments have more robust mechanisms to scrutinize and direct military activities. In Canada, the line between military advice and civilian direction has become blurred, making true oversight difficult to achieve.
Real-World Consequences: From Culture to Procurement
The lack of strong civilian oversight is not an abstract governance failure; it has tangible, damaging consequences. The study explicitly links the weakness in oversight to the CAF’s ongoing cultural crisis.
Accountability and the Sexual Misconduct Crisis
The handling of sexual misconduct allegations against senior leaders revealed a system in disarray. The study suggests that a stronger civilian oversight apparatus within DND could have provided earlier warnings, more independent investigative avenues, and a clearer path for ministerial intervention. Instead, the crisis festered, revealing a chain of command ill-equipped to police itself and a civilian ministry unable to effectively intervene.
The Procurement Quagmire
Canada’s notoriously troubled military procurement system is another symptom. Endless delays and cost overruns on projects like new fighter jets and naval ships are often blamed on bureaucracy. However, the study implies a deeper issue: without a powerful, expert civilian team to manage and challenge procurement requirements and processes, projects can drift according to military preferences that are not always aligned with fiscal reality or government policy.
Charting a Path to Reform
The study does more than diagnose the problem; it offers a roadmap for reform. The recommendations are sweeping, calling for nothing less than a rebalancing of power between civilian and military authorities within Canada’s defence establishment.
The primary recommendations include:
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A Critical Moment for Canadian Democracy
The call for stronger civilian oversight of the military is ultimately a call to strengthen Canadian democracy itself. It is about ensuring that one of the state’s most powerful institutions is fully accountable to the people and their elected representatives.
As Canada faces a more uncertain global security environment, the need for a agile, effective, and trustworthy military has never been greater. Trust, however, is built on accountability. The University of Ottawa study makes a compelling case that before the CAF can fully address the crises within its culture and operations, the government must first fix the broken system meant to guide and control it. The responsibility now lies with Parliament and the government to heed this warning and embark on the necessary, fundamental reforms to ensure Canada’s military is not just strong, but also squarely under democratic civilian control.
