Special Force

Unlike other nations where "Special Forces" has a different connotation, under the National Defence Act the Special Force is one of three components of the Canadian Forces. The NDA reads:

Special force

16. (1) In an emergency, or if considered desirable in consequence of any action undertaken by Canada under the United Nations Charter or the North Atlantic Treaty, the North American Aerospace Defence Command Agreement or any other similar instrument to which Canada is a party, the Governor in Council may establish and authorize the maintenance of a component of the Canadian Forces, called the special force, consisting of

(a) officers and non-commissioned members of the regular force who are placed in the special force under conditions prescribed in regulations;

(b) officers and non-commissioned members of the reserve force who, being on active service or having applied and been accepted for continuing, full-time military service, are placed in the special force under conditions prescribed in regulations; and

(c) officers and non-commissioned members not of the regular force or the reserve force who are enrolled in the special force for continuing, full-time military service.

Composition of special force

(2) The maximum numbers of officers and non-commissioned members in the special force shall be as authorized by the Governor in Council, and the special force shall include such units and other elements as are embodied therein.

The last time the Special Force was established was during the Korean War.