The ''National Defence Act'' (NDA; ; ''LDN'') is an
Act of the
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada () is the Canadian federalism, federal legislature of Canada. The Monarchy of Canada, Crown, along with two chambers: the Senate of Canada, Senate and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, form the Bicameral ...
, which is the primary enabling legislation for organizing and funding the
military of Canada.
The Act created the
Department of National Defence, which merged the functions of the
Department of Militia and Defence with the
Department of the Naval Service and the
Air Board, after its passage in 1922 and its implementation on 1 January 1923. At that time, and until the passage of the National Defence Act of 1950, the Canadian army was still governed by the UK's ''Army Act''.
History
On 4 November 1966, Bill C-243, ''The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act'', was introduced to amend the ''National Defence Act''. The aim of the bill was to reorganize the
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...
, the
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...
and the
Royal Canadian Air Force, previously separate and independent services, under one umbrella. Following the debate in the House of Commons and further examination by the Defence Committee, the Bill was given a third and final reading in April 1967, clearing the way for unification. The ''Canadian Forces Reorganization Act'' came into effect on 1 February 1968,
creating one organization responsible for the defence of Canada, the
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
, and amending the ''National Defence Act''.
The Act
The Act enables the
Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces to govern the military of
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. The Act establishes
Non-Public Property (NPP) as a special class of Crown property to be used for the benefit of serving and former members of the Canadian Forces and their families. Most western nations have created similar regimes to support the morale and welfare needs of their militaries. On behalf of the
Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), the Director General Personnel and Family Support Services (DGPFSS) acts as the Managing Director for Non-Public Property and establishes the policies and provides functional oversight for the many NPP programs and activities delivered locally at bases and messes.
Personnel and Family Support Services (PFSS) is responsible for administering NPP as well as for delivering selected public Morale and Welfare programs, services, and activities on behalf of the Chief of Military Personnel (CMP). The workforce delivering Non-Public Property programs and activities primarily consists of the Staff of the Non-Public Funds, Canadian Forces and members of the Canadian Forces. The Staff of the Non-Public Funds, Canadian Forces is a Separate Agency listed under Schedule 5 of the ''
Financial Administration Act''.
References
Further reading
* {{Cite book , last=Madsen , first=Chris , url=https://store.thomsonreuters.ca/en-ca/products/military-law-and-operations-30842746 , title=Military Law and Operations , publisher=Canada Law Book , year=2008 , location=Aurora, Ontario , type=loose-leaf publication up-dated 1-2 times per year , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211123540/http://canadalawbook.ca/catalogue_detail.cfm?ProductID=1302&CategoryID=48 , archive-date=11 February 2009
Canadian military law
1922 in Canadian law
Legal history of Canada
Canadian Armed Forces
Canadian federal legislation
Canadian Militia