Get the Facts: Defence and Foreign Affairs

Key Facts on Canadian Military Deployments and Humanitarian Commitments Abroad

• Since 2001, Canada has deployed 23,750 Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel in the international campaign against terrorism.
• Canada was the first US ally to deploy to the Northern Arabian Sea/Persian Gulf after 9/11.
• The United States Government has awarded 30 US Bronze Stars to Canadian service personnel in the War on Terror.

Canada is currently involved in 17 overseas military missions, including Afghanistan, Sudan, and Haiti. Canadian ship-borne helicopters, patrol, and transport aircraft have flown more than 5,500 sorties and at least 22,500 hours of mission flights.

Afghanistan

• 2,300 Canadian Forces (CF) personnel comprising Task Force Afghanistan, currently deployed to improve the security situation in southern Afghanistan. Since 2001, over 18,000 CF personnel have been deployed to Afghanistan as part of the UN-supported ISAF and OEF missions.
• 20 Canadian Warships have been deployed (19 to the Persian Gulf).
• Canada commands a Multinational Brigade in Kandahar (March 06).
• Canada operates an airbase in the Persian Gulf and has flown 5,000 tactical airlift, patrol and (ship-based) helicopter sorties.
• A Canadian Lieutenant-General (Rick Hillier) commanded NATO's 6,500 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops in Kabul in 2004.

Sudan

• $200 million committed.
• Key support to African Union mission in the Sudan - 105 Canadian armoured vehicles and the leasing of 15 medium lift helicopters.
• 128 Canadian military assigned.

Haiti

• 5 military/RCMP missions there since 1990.
• Elections Canada to head up Election oversight mission (Similar to our role with the Iraq elections in January).
• 100 Civilian Police officers deployed.

Iraq

• Canada has given $300 million for reconstruction efforts, led the International Mission for Iraqi Elections.
• 19 Canadian police trainers serve at the Jordan International Police Training Center (which has trained 11,158 Iraqi Police Officers as of February 2005).
• 30 military trainers and $1 million have been committed to the NATO training mission for Iraqi security and defense officials.

Historical

• Canada has served on 146 overseas missions since 1990.
• 40,000 troops have served in the Balkans since 1991.
• 165,000 troops overseas since 1950.

Support for Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

• Canada was one of the first on-scene to help in New Orleans with a Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Unit from Vancouver.
• Canada moved quickly to send ships, aircraft, divers and 900 Canadian Forces personnel from the Navy, Army and the Air Force to the affected area to provide assistance in relief efforts. The operation was called Operation UNISON 2005. For photos of the Canadian Forces helping with relief efforts in the United States, click here.

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