Pretty much and what you stated fits with the order of precedence of the assigned ministers:
http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=prec
You can see where National Defence ranks on the scale of importance for the government; number 21 between climate change and infrastructure and communities.
Public Safety, which is responsible for National Security and oversees CSIS, RCMP, CBSA, Corrections, etc is #2
Public Safety leans heavily on DND/CAF for support to its mandate; however, we aren't important in the halls of decision-making.