Why Canada is seeing its biggest military recruitment surge in 30 years
Key takeaways
- Now, the Canadian army is growing at a pace not seen in decades, reaching its highest number of recruits in 30 years and potentially reversing the chronic personnel shortage that has plagued the country's military.
- "When people see that the world is not as safe, that their country might be at risk… we tend to see people join the military," she said.
- Global conflicts are not the only factor driving the increase.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Nadine Yousif Senior Canada reporter Reuters For decades, Canada was seen as a global laggard in defence funding, and just two years ago, recruitment was so dire that a former defence minister warned the armed forces were in a "death spiral".
Now, the Canadian army is growing at a pace not seen in decades, reaching its highest number of recruits in 30 years and potentially reversing the chronic personnel shortage that has plagued the country's military.
The boost over the last two years comes as the world grapples with major armed conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty, and as Canada commits billions in new military funding after years of falling short of its Nato obligations.