More Canadians are applying to join the military than ever, but a growing number of serving members are leaving, deepening Canada’s defence personnel crisis.
Surge in Applications Fails to Offset Departures
Interest in joining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has reached its highest point in a decade, with over 77,000 applications submitted in the past year. Yet, even as recruitment numbers spike, the military continues to lose thousands of experienced members, threatening the CAF’s operational capacity.
Crisis Deepens Amid Political Promises
The federal government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, is pledging major reforms and investment in the military, with $9.3 billion in new funding announced earlier this month. The announcement coincided with Carney’s appearance at the NATO summit in Brussels, where he vowed to strengthen Canada’s military independence and reduce reliance on U.S. support.
Despite these promises, data obtained by Global News show that attrition among regular forces worsened between 2024 and 2025. A total of 5,026 members left, up from 4,256 the year prior.
Defence Experts Warn of Structural Problems
Analysts say the military’s focus on recruitment has come at the expense of retention. “The reason why retention has not been improving is because the military has been putting all of its eggs in the recruitment basket,” said Charlotte Duval-Lantoine of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. She noted that many of those exiting take with them critical expertise that cannot be quickly replaced.
While recruitment reached 6,706 in the latest fiscal year, not all new enlistees will complete basic training—highlighting the gap between interest and readiness.
Military Expands Access but Faces Staffing Bottlenecks
In a bid to broaden the pool of applicants, the CAF recently expanded eligibility to permanent residents and those with certain medical conditions. A new online portal was launched to streamline applications. Yet, Duval-Lantoine warns that processing remains slow and under-resourced.
The military confirmed that many applicants abandon their applications midway, and a shortage of intake staff is hampering throughput.
U.S. Tensions and Domestic Reforms Fuel Interest
Canada’s renewed focus on national defence comes amid rising tension with the United States. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and trade policies have reignited concerns over Canadian sovereignty, prompting Ottawa to prioritize military spending and autonomy.
The CAF has announced plans to raise salaries by 20 per cent, though Defence Minister David McGuinty has not given a timeline. Of the newly pledged defence budget, $2.6 billion is earmarked for recruitment and personnel costs, including 1,400 additional hires.
Retention, Not Just Recruitment, Seen as Key to Readiness
Defence insiders argue that without aggressive retention efforts, Canada is unlikely to meet its goal of 71,500 regular force members and 30,000 reservists by 2030. Training delays, limited career growth, housing challenges, and stagnant pay are all contributing to the exodus.
“There are a wide variety of reasons members choose to stay in or leave the CAF,” said Derek Abma, spokesperson for the Department of National Defence, who described the attrition as within normal range.
Still, former defence chief Wayne Eyre believes more experimentation and flexibility are needed. “We’ve got to keep our foot on the gas,” he said. “Get as many qualified members in the door as quickly as possible.”
For continuous coverage and real-time updates, keep following Maple News Wire.
