Policy Analysis

The following merit criteria and qualifications:

a. Ability to conduct research, analyze and synthesize information to develop and present sound recommendations for management.

b. Ability to perform effectively under pressure and deliver results with tight deadlines.

c. Knowledge of current Government policy and priorities in defence and security in Canada.

There will be 2 questions.

The exam must be typed (Times New Roman, 12 point font), single-spaced with 1 margins on a letter-size document (8.5 x 11), and saved in Word format (.doc or .docx).

For question #1, your answer must follow the provided template and be no more than three (3) pages in length, including in-text references, but excluding your bibliography.

You must reference your sources for each question. You must use in-text references following the author-date-page format (e.g. (Stoltenberg 2022:12)). Evidence of cutting and pasting without proper referencing will result in failure.

Please list all the resources you have consulted in a bibliography to be added at the end of your exam. Please add your bibliography at the end of your document.

If you need to make assumptions, please explain those assumptions in your answer.

Indicate your application number at the top of each page (header) and insert page number at the bottom of every page (footer).

Question 1

Scenario: The head of the Policy Group at the Department of National Defence (the Assistant Deputy Minister, [ADM]) is preparing to meet with senior officials from other federal departments to discuss Canadas response to growing geopolitical threats in the Arctic. The ADM is new to the Department of National Defence.

Task: Write a briefing note to support your ADMs attendance at this meeting.

Instructions: Following the attached template and exam instructions, your briefing note must provide 3 options for how Canada can respond to Arctic geopolitical threats and provide a clear recommendation. Your briefing note should address relevance to the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces, alignment with Government of Canada priorities, describe what Canadas allies are doing in the Arctic, and highlight obstacles to strengthening Arctic defence.

Additional Guidance: Your manager also suggested you consult the following Policy resources:

Speech from the Throne;

Mandate Letter from the Prime Minister (2025);

Our North, Strong and Free a defence policy update; and

Budget 2025: Canada Strong.

Question 2

Scenario: You are a policy officer at the Department of National Defence (DND). Senior leadership is preparing for discussions on the implications of Budget 2025 for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and DND priorities. You have been provided only the following three source documents:

Budget 2025: Canada Strong

Our North, Strong and Free A Defence Policy Update

The Prime Ministers Mandate Letter

Task: In maximum 500 words, write a response that identifies the two most consequential initiatives described across the three documents for DND/CAF. Explains why those two initiatives are the most consequential, focusing on DND/CAF relevance.

Your answer must demonstrate synthesizing (bringing together the three sources) and selecting what matters most (not simply listing everything).

Please use the attached template to complete your answers for both Question 1 and Question 2.