Program directory · National Defence
Ready Land Forces
- Department
- National Defence
- Program code
- BUO03 (ND)
- Core responsibility
- Ready Forces
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
The Ready Land Forces program generates, sustains and renews combat effective, multi-purpose land forces and capabilities that are ready for operations. The program is deliberately organized to ensure that soldiers are trained and adequately equipped, which allows the Canadian Army to be scalable, agile, responsive and interoperable both domestically with civil authorities and other Government Departments, and internationally with allies and partners.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready Land Forces | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $18.4B |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Spending $3.21B, against $2.25B in 2019-20 (+43%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2021-22 | Spending $2.39B, against $3.21B in 2020-21 (−25%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2022-23 | Indicators added: % of key land fleets that are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements in support of concurrent operations | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Indicators dropped: % of key Land equipment that is servicable to meet resourced training and readiness requirements | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Spending $3.24B, against $2.32B in 2022-23 (+40%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024-25 | Indicators added: % of land key fleets that are serviceable to meet training, readiness, and operational requirements | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024-25 | Indicators dropped: % of key land fleets that are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements in support of concurrent operations | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
% of deployable Land force elements in support of Force Posture & Readiness (FP&R)
Expected result: Land force elements are deployable in support of Force Posture and Readiness (FP&R)
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 85% | 2019 | 84.3% During FY 2018-19, the Canadian Army (CA) force generated and deployed force elements, in accordance with Force Posture & Readiness (FP&R), for operations abroad, and in response to emergencies in Canada. To meet FP&R requirements, a thorough review of CA readiness processes is being conducted and the CA will continue to operationalize the Army Reserve. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | 85% – 95% | 2020 | 84.3% During FY 2019-20, although slightly under our target, the Canadian Army (CA) force generated and deployed force elements on named operations while preserving force elements for contingency commitments to allies; overall, providing timely effects both internationally and domestically. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 85% | 2021 | 85% | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 85% | 2022 | 85% | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 85% | 2023 | 85% | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 85% | 2024 | 51% In FY 2023-24, the Canadian Army did not meet its FP&R targets due to shortages of personnel, equipment, and materiel, including ammunition. The expansion of Op REASSURANCE has also necessitated deploying large quantities of land equipment to Latvia. Years of accumulated shortfalls in sustainment funding have led to a continued decline in land fleet serviceability. This decline is further exacerb… | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 85% | 2025 | 44% The target was not met due to shortages of personnel, equipment, and materiel including ammunition. The expansion of Op REASSURANCE increased demand for land equipment in Latvia, which strained sustainment resources. As deployed operations are prioritized for sustainment support, the readiness of other land forces decline. The FP&R target will be reassessed once new funding models are in place. D… | Not met |
% of land key fleets that are serviceable to meet training, readiness, and operational requirements
Expected result: Land fleets are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | ≥ 70% | 2025 | 51% Despite improvements over the previous year, the target was not met due to underfunding of National Procurement, an aging fleet, and high operational tempo. Serviceability is expected to improve as new fleets are introduced, and older ones are divested. The 51% result is assessed against a 70% target that accounts for planned maintenance. Achieving 100% serviceability across key fleets at the sam… | Not met |
% of key land fleets that are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements in support of concurrent operations
Expected result: Land fleets are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | ≥ 80% | 2023 | 56% The CA did not meet its equipment serviceability target due to several key fleets not meeting their respective targets for various reasons including parts obsolescence and ageing fleets. The CA is working on several initiatives to increase serviceability, primarily a review of preventive maintenance cycles for certain fleets in accordance with federal and provincial standards, a review of fleet-s… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 80% | 2024 | 49% During FY 2023-24, the Canadian Army did not meet its land fleet serviceability target. Despite ongoing efforts to optimize maintenance production within the given envelope of available resources, the serviceability of the Canadian Army key fleets continued to decline. This persistent downward trend is primarily due to years of insufficient National Procurement funding as well as the aging and in… | Not met |
% of key Land equipment that is servicable to meet resourced training and readiness requirements
Expected result: Land force elements are deployable in support of Force Posture and Readiness (FP&R)
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 68% | 2019 | 72% As part of its incremental improvement plan for equipment serviceability, the FY 2018-19 target of 68% was exceeded, achieving a result of 72%. While there is an upward trend, aging fleets and the introduction of new equipment continue to remain a risk and will require ongoing mitigation through equipment management programs such as the Canadian Army Equipment Readiness Programme (CAERP). | Met |
| 2019-20 | 70% – 80% | 2020 | 65.4% During FY 2019-20, the CA force generated the necessary equipment for operations, mandated training and institutional support. The target of 70% was not achieved due to a less than optimal spare parts and technicians that have contributed to low serviceability of certain key fleets. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 70% | 2021 | 62.7% During FY 2020-21 the serviceability level of land operational equipment met the current Canadian Army operational remits and force generation activity requirements. The Canadian Army Equipment Readiness Programme fleet serviceability rate for FY 2020-21 was 62.7%*. The target of 70% was not achieved due to persistent COVID-19 impacts on limited maintenance resources, increased maintenance requir… | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 70% | 2022 | 65.8% During FY 2021-22, maintenance technician productivity increased slightly compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, local public health measures, at different maintenance workshops still had a negative effect on serviceability levels and the ability of technicians to meet specific targets. For example, limitations on the number of personnel who could be present in the workplace resulted in delays… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 70% | 2023 | 56% The CA did not meet its equipment serviceability target due to several key fleets not meeting their respective targets for various reasons including parts obsolescence and ageing fleets. The CA is working on several initiatives to increase serviceability, primarily a review of preventive maintenance cycles for certain fleets in accordance with federal and provincial standards, a review of fleet-s… | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
No indicators in the 2026-27 plan.
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
% of deployable Land force elements in support of Force Posture & Readiness (FP&R)
Expected result: Land force elements are deployable in support of Force Posture and Readiness (FP&R)
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 85% | 2032 | — | Planned |
% of land key fleets that are serviceable to meet training, readiness, and operational requirements
Expected result: Land fleets are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 80% | 2036 | — | Planned |
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $2.32B | $2.51B |
| 2019-20 | $2.35B | $2.25B |
| 2020-21 | $2.39B | $3.21B |
| 2021-22 | $2.41B | $2.39B |
| 2022-23 | $2.41B | $2.32B |
| 2023-24 | $2.51B | $3.24B |
| 2024-25 | $2.62B | $2.46B |
| 2025-26 | $2.53B | — |
| 2026-27 | $2.83B | — |
| 2027-28 | $2.85B* | — |
| 2028-29 | $2.91B* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 19,779 | 19,475 |
| 2019-20 | 19,455 | 19,588 |
| 2020-21 | 20,095 | 19,145 |
| 2021-22 | 19,484 | 17,907 |
| 2022-23 | 18,264 | 16,592 |
| 2023-24 | 17,428 | 14,866 |
| 2024-25 | 16,755 | 14,636 |
| 2025-26 | 16,226 | — |
| 2026-27 | 14,763 | — |
| 2027-28 | 15,068* | — |
| 2028-29 | 15,351* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $2,323,603,996 | $2,339,262,835 | $2,356,993,482 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $2,348,451,461 | $2,368,539,972 | $2,414,439,905 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $2,387,299,578 | $2,347,869,604 | $2,381,431,108 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $2,412,530,133 | $2,388,982,129 | $2,427,398,046 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $2,411,070,282 | $2,339,943,402 | $2,353,302,094 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $2,505,377,589 | $2,451,910,213 | $2,488,525,510 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $2,622,871,733 | $2,534,395,245 | $2,528,762,399 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $2,526,762,132 | $2,495,702,437 | $2,519,337,286 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $2,827,080,247 | $2,848,399,761 | $2,907,500,590 | ||||||||
| Actual | $2,505,693,308 | $2,248,466,492 | $3,205,453,757 | $2,392,494,833 | $2,318,151,544 | $3,240,578,015 | $2,460,269,329 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
