The objective of the Canadian Biological Defence Program at Defence R&D Canada is to ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces are provided with an adequate defence against biological warfare agents. No offensive studies of any kind are permitted by the Government of Canada. The Program is primarily funded by the Canadian Department of National Defence on behalf of the Government. The principal research and development areas are the following:
- assessment of the hazards that may be faced by the Canadian Armed Forces from biological agents and toxins;
- detection of biological agents and toxins using immunological, biochemical and physical detection methods;
- medical countermeasures against the infections or intoxications from biological agents and toxins;
- decontamination of biological agents and toxins;
- personal protection from biological agents and toxins;
- studies on the mode of action and toxicity of toxins and the mode of action and infectivity of biological agents; and
- provision of biological agent training for the Department of National Defence, its allies, and the First Responder community.
In Canada, the biological, chemical, and radiological defence programs are integrated; exact separation of the costs of the three programs would be very difficult without a detailed analysis of every purchase. However, it is estimated that in 2018, the amount spent on the Canadian biological defence program was approximately $4,658,921 including salaries, but excluding contracts to external entities. The source of this funding was the Government of Canada.
About $ 1,102,000 was spent on contracts with industry and universities
Contractors are used to support all of the various aspects of the program listed in paragraph 1 above.
In Canada, the research and development program in biological defence is the responsibility of Defence R&D Canada (DRDC). Research and some development is carried out primarily at Defence R&D Canada – Suffield Research Centre (DRDC SRC) and through contractors. The bulk of the program development is carried out from DRDC Corporate headquarters in Ottawa. A minor effort in the stand-off detection of biological agents is carried out at DRDC Valcartier Research Centre (VRC). Organizational charts of those parts of DRDC SRC and DRDC VRC responsible for biological defence are included in Form A, part 2 (iii). Only those organisational elements working on Biological Defence are included.
Not applicable, please refer to Form A, Part 2 (iii) for further details.