EXCLUSIVE: Chief of the defence staff points to missile technologies from Russia as biggest threat facing Canada

Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan discusses defence spending, the upcoming NATO summit, and the decision on Canada’s aging fighter jet fleet.

OTTAWA – Asked what she believes is the primary threat Canada faces moving forward, the country’s top soldier is pointing to missiles developed with new technology coming from Russia.

“The threat to our continent is mostly related to the new missile technologies and the new vehicles of delivery that Russia is developing,” Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in a wide-ranging exclusive interview, when asked what keeps her up at night.

“North Korea, and then we’ve even seen it with Iran, with the cruise missiles, long- and medium-range,” she added. “Our adversaries have developed a lot in that technology over the past few years, so now it’s about protecting the continent against those potential threats.”

The nature of that threat has, in part, prompted a sweeping change — or as Carignan called it, a “new structure” — in the way the Canadian military plans to orient itself moving forward, from participating in specialized theatres of operation like in Afghanistan, to a focus on defending Canada itself.

“We were very much focused on defending Canada abroad, but with the current development in missile technologies, especially from Russia, now we have to make sure that we are well positioned in the Arctic, especially, and for the defence of Canada’s territory,” Carignan said, pointing specifically to capabilities such as “air defence systems, sensors from underwater, all the way up to space.”

That means prioritizing the Arctic and the ability to intercept missiles from Russia. Carignan also emphasized the importance of deterrence, which she called “a mix” of alliances, procurement and readiness.

“It is to force our adversaries to calculate a potential cost,” Carignan said. “So, if again looking at the example of Ukraine, right now, it’s extremely costly for Russia, this war.”

“They are still engaged in it, but what caused Russia to attack is Ukraine appeared to be in a very vulnerable state,” she also said. “So once that vulnerability appears, then the intention of attacking can come with it.”

Russia has been at war with Ukraine since it invaded its neighbour in February 2022.

Carignan in her interview also discussed Canada’s increased defence spending, the military’s readiness considering those funds, and the future of Norad.

You can watch Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan’s exclusive interview on CTV Question Period in the video player at the top of this article.