Defence Jammers Exemption Order

Summary#

This is the Radiocommunication Act Exemption Order (Jammers — Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces) — SOR/2024-7. It lets certain people connected to the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces (and some suppliers and supervised foreign military personnel) install, use, import or handle radio jammers for specific purposes, subject to conditions. The order came into force on January 24, 2024 and lasts for five years (until January 24, 2029).

What it does#

• Temporarily exempts certain jammer-related activities from parts of the Radiocommunication Act for specified groups.
• Who can be exempted (short list):
  • Employees and members of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces who need jammers for duties or training.
  • Other government employees importing jammers for DND work.
  • Suppliers who respond to DND solicitations or who have contracts to provide jammers or related services for DND.
  • Members of foreign military forces present in Canada under an international arrangement, when supervised by DND/CF staff.
• Permitted purposes (examples):
  • national defence, public safety (including prisons), national security, international relations, criminal investigation or evidence preservation, and protection of property or prevention of serious harm.
  • For foreign military personnel, the allowed purposes are narrower (defence, international relations, property/harm prevention).
• Conditions that must be met:
  • Provide contact information to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and keep it updated.
  • Training for anyone who installs, uses or handles jammers.
  • Make relevant directives or orders reasonably accessible to staff.
  • Limit interference to the smallest area, fewest frequencies, lowest power and shortest time needed.
  • Minimize unwanted emissions and human exposure to radiofrequency fields.
  • Ensure jammers can be adjusted for which frequencies they affect.
  • Secure storage and prevent access by unauthorized people; turn devices off during transport and when not in use.
  • Keep a record each time a jammer is used (place, date/time if possible, frequencies affected, and purpose).
  • Suppliers may only use jammers under DND supervision and for testing, maintenance, or training related to a contract.
• The order applies for five years from the registration date and then expires.

Who's affected#

• Directly: members and employees of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces who need to use jammers for work or training.
• Contractors and suppliers who bid on or hold contracts to supply jammers or related services to DND; small businesses could be among these, but the number affected is not stated.
• Foreign military personnel in Canada under formal arrangements, when supervised.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which will receive contact details and handle compliance checks.
• Indirectly: people near where jammers are used — local radio services (mobile phones, GPS, Wi‑Fi) could be disrupted temporarily when jammers operate.

If the source is unclear: the Gazette does not give a count of affected businesses or exact locations where jammers will be used.

Why it matters#

• Canada generally bans jammers because they disrupt civilian radio services. This order creates a limited, controlled exception so the military and its contractors can train, test and operate electronic countermeasures legally.
• Real-world effects can include temporary, localized loss or interference of wireless services (cell, GPS, radio) where jammers are used. The order includes rules meant to reduce that risk.
• It could create new contract opportunities for firms that supply or maintain jammer equipment for the military. The scale of that impact is not specified.
• The order is temporary (five years), so it sets a time-limited framework while government departments study longer-term rules and safeguards.