Canada’s defence minister says a long-awaited review on the future of the Canadian Armed Forces will look into potential investments in technology, including drones.

‘We do need to look at technology,’ Harjit Sajjan says of pending review of military | Toronto Star

‘We do need to look at technology,’ Harjit Sajjan says of pending review of military | Toronto Star

Harjit Sajjan says the review, which was announced last month, will help set procurement priorities for the military.

Sajjan spoke in Toronto before attending the second of six public consultations to discuss the future size of the military, the kinds of missions it will undertake and the type of equipment it will have.

The first was held in Vancouver in late April. The Liberals hope to have the entire review completed by early 2017.

It is the first time in decades that citizens have been asked what role they believe the Canadian Armed Forces should be playing in the world and with what equipment.

Sajjan says he is “encouraged” to see people weighing in through a form on the government’s website.

The minister says the review is “a great opportunity to make sure that we have a good discussion and the right policy framework that connects well with our foreign affairs priorities.”

“We do need to evolve, we do need to look at technology,” he said.

“We need to look at modernizing our radar systems. We also need to look at technology and . . . potentially looking at UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and how do we utilize them.

“Not just strictly from a combat sense but we need to look at it from on a peacekeeping mission, we need to look at it on humanitarian missions, domestic response.”