The Department of National Defence announced on Thursday that the Canadian military is undergoing a structural reorganization to enhance its agility and adaptability to new technologies. The creation of a new joint forces command, inspired by allied nations like Australia, will consolidate key support elements such as military health services, logistics, operational support branches, and the military police.
Under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, the newly established Canadian Joint Forces Command (CJFC) will oversee evolving areas like counter-drone warfare and integrated air and missile defense in the future. CJFC’s mandate covers joint military capabilities across various domains including land, sea, air, cyber, and space.
The recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine emphasized the pressing need for these organizational changes, highlighting the significance of having a unified command structure for unconventional military components. Lt.-Gen. Molstad pointed to Ukraine’s innovative use of technologies in warfare, underscoring the importance of adapting to modern threats.
One of the initial focuses of the reorganization will be strengthening the Canadian Forces Health Services Group to enhance its ability to deliver healthcare services even in extreme conflict situations. Lt.-Gen. Molstad noted that these enhancements are partly driven by Canada’s commitments to NATO.
While the transition of military police ownership to CJFC is pending, the current oversight by the vice chief of the defence staff will shift once the Parliament passes Bill C-11. Despite this change, the military police will maintain its operational independence within the new command structure.
