The Department of National Defence

In the National Defence Act, Section 3 creates DND as a "department of the Government of Canada over which the Minister of National Defence appointed by commission under the Great Seal shall preside." Section 4 of the Act sets out the duties of the Minister as follows: "to manage and direct the Canadian Forces and all matters relating to national defence," having specific responsibility for:

• "the construction and maintenance of all defence establishments and works for the defence of Canada; and

• "research relating to the defence of Canada and to the development of and improvements in materiel."

DND exists to carry out the work assigned to the Minister of National Defence, so the department's relationship with the Canadian Forces is that of a support system. [1]