Question Period Note: PEACEKEEPING AND SMART PLEDGES

• What is the government doing to fulfill its “Smart Pledges” in support of peacekeeping operations?

• Canada is proud of the contribution our women and men in uniform are making to UN peacekeeping missions across the globe.
• In 2018-2019, we delivered on our first “Smart Pledge” by providing aeromedical evacuations and air transport in support of UN forces in Mali.
• We also assisted Romania, who replaced us in the provision of this capacity, with the deployment of their personnel and equipment to Mali.
• This concept allows countries to work with the UN to identify opportunities where unique military capabilities can provide the most value.
• Canada is currently delivering on another “Smart Pledge” by transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to UN operations from Entebbe, Uganda.
• This deployment supports UN operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

BACKGROUND

UN Peacekeeping and Smart Pledges

• Canada is committed to supporting UN peacekeeping by providing high-value military capabilities to address capability gaps in UN peacekeeping operations, in partnership with other contributing countries. Canada’s contributions will help sustain international peace and security.

• On November 14-15, 2017, Canada hosted the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver, where Canada committed to deliver a number of “Smart Pledges” to provide specialized military capabilities to UN peace support operations. These include:

  • an Aviation Task Force of medium utility and armed helicopters;
  • tactical airlift support to transport troops, equipment, and supplies to UN missions; and
  • a Quick Reaction Force, comprised of a reinforced company with corresponding equipment.

• In addition, Canada committed to develop and implement innovative peace support operations training, including through a Canadian Training and Advisory Team that will work with the Ghanaian Armed Forces before and during their UN deployment as part of the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, as well as contributions to mobile training teams and activities to meet UN needs in various training centres and schools.

• From August 2018 to August 2019, Canada delivered on its first “Smart Pledge” by providing two Chinook and four Griffon helicopters, as well as 250 personnel, to conduct aeromedical evacuations and tactical airlift in support of UN forces in Mali. During this period, Canada delivered approximately 2 million pounds of cargo, and transported 3,700 passengers. Canada assisted Romania in the takeover of this mission in August 2019, by providing intra-theatre airlift to deploy its personnel into theatre and a Canadian Armed Forces transition team to assist them in their operational preparations.

• The Canadian Armed Forces is currently delivering on another pledge by providing a Hercules aircraft that is conducting tactical airlift out of Entebbe, Uganda, to help sustain UN operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. This is currently an episodic mission of 30 hours per month.

Peace Support Operations

• The Canadian Armed Forces is currently engaged in nine peace-support operations across the globe, six of which are UN-led operations in: Uganda; Syria, Lebanon and Israel; Cyprus; the Democratic Republic of Congo; Mali; and South Sudan.

• The Canadian Armed Forces is also participating in other peace-support operations in Israel (multinational effort), the Sinai Peninsula in Northern Egypt (multinational effort), and Kosovo (NATO).

RECENT PARLIAMENTARY INTEREST

• Over the course of the last Parliamentary session there was sustained interest in peacekeeping operations. For example, the House Standing Committee on National Defence produced a study on Canada’s role in international peace operations and conflict resolution. In their dissenting opinion, the NDP stated the report did not go far enough in holding the Government to their promise of increased participation in international peace operations.

RECENT MEDIA INTEREST

• During the election campaign, the Conservative Party included peacekeeping in Ukraine as a platform commitment. Following the election, CBC published an article on the possibility of Canada leading a peacekeeping mission in Eastern Ukraine.

GBA+

• Through Global Affairs Canada, the government is contributing to the meaningful participation of uniformed women in peace operations; enhancing the capacity of the UN to take gender into account during the design and conduct of peace operations; and supporting the implementation of the UN’s Action for Peacekeeping agenda. Canada’s contribution to the Elsie Initiative for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations will provide financial assistance and incentives, as well as training and technical assistance to troop and police contributing countries. This will help increase the number of uniformed women participating in UN peace operations.

INDIGENOUS

• Nil.

Responsible Principals: Canadian Joint Operations Command, Strategic Joint Staff, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy)

QUICK FACTS

• At the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver, Canada committed to deliver “Smart Pledges” to provide specialized military capabilities to UN peacekeeping.
• These “Smart Pledges” include:
  • an Aviation Task Force of medium utility and armed helicopters;
  • tactical airlift support to transport troops, equipment, and supplies to UN missions; and
  • a Quick Reaction Force, comprised of a reinforced company with corresponding equipment.