Republican Guard (Canada)

The Republican Guard (French: Garde républicaine) is an elite mechanized division of the Canadian Army, tasked first and foremost with defence of the federal capital Ottawa. Its creation originated with the need to protect Canada's republican transition, later the need for coup-proofing the Canadian federal government under the Communist Party of Canada, by ensuring more than anywhere else in the Canadian Forces the political orthodoxy of Republican Guard personnel. As such, the Royal Canadian Gendarmerie's Political Security Corps maintains close contact with Republican Guard operations.

The Republican Guard is the only division of the Canadian Army allowed within the boundaries of Ottawa, and exists as a counterbalance to other numerous, strong Canadian Forces formations based around the capital. As of 2020, the Republican Guard, entirely an active service division, consists of 6550 personnel. The Republican Guard also operates a number of utility as well as attack helicopters, and features some of the best sniper teams and stealth infantry experts in the Canadian Army, making it an important component of the Canadian Special Forces.