Key Points and Summary: The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are in decline, struggling with recruitment, retention, and outdated equipment due to chronic underfunding and mismanagement.
-A potential Conservative government must act decisively to reverse this trend.’
-Key reforms include streamlining recruitment, improving soldier quality of life, and procuring modern, off-the-shelf technologies like drones and cyber warfare capabilities, rather than pursuing costly domestic projects.
-Prioritizing Arctic defense against Russian and Chinese expansion is crucial, requiring investment in ice-capable submarines, enhanced air patrols, and permanent northern infrastructure.
-Meeting NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target is essential to fund these changes and restore Canada’s military credibility.
From Recruitment to the Arctic: How Canada Can Rebuild Its Military
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are in dire need of revitalization. Chronic underfunding, procurement mismanagement, and an identity crisis over Canada’s strategic role have left the military struggling to meet its obligations at home and abroad.
If a Conservative government takes power, it must prioritize three key areas to rebuild Ottawa’s military: improving recruiting and retention, investing in appropriate technologies, and focusing on Arctic defense.
Without these fundamental shifts, Canada will remain an unreliable ally and a weak link in continental security.
The CAF is facing an existential manpower crisis. Recruitment numbers are far below necessary levels, and retention rates continue to plummet as personnel leave due to poor working conditions, outdated equipment, and a lack of a clear mission. The Trudeau government’s approach—focusing heavily on cultural and administrative reforms while neglecting operational readiness—has done little to make service in the CAF attractive.
A Conservative government must immediately overhaul recruitment policies. This begins with reducing bureaucratic delays in the enlistment process, which can take up to a year for new recruits. Cutting unnecessary red tape and ensuring faster onboarding will help prevent potential candidates from losing interest or seeking alternative career paths. Retention also requires serious attention. Competitive salaries and benefits are a given, but quality-of-life improvements—such as better housing, family support programs, and a modernized pension system—will be critical in persuading experienced personnel to remain in uniform. Furthermore, restoring a sense of pride and purpose in the CAF by clearly defining Canada’s military objectives, rather than treating the armed forces as a social engineering project, will help reverse the morale crisis.
For too long, Canada’s military procurement has been an embarrassing disaster, plagued by cost overruns, delays, and political interference. The Trudeau government’s procurement failures—from the botched fighter jet replacement program to the Navy’s stalled surface combatant program—have left the CAF dangerously ill-equipped. A Conservative government must fundamentally restructure procurement processes to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and strategic relevance.
Rather than attempting to build everything domestically—an approach that often results in overpriced and underperforming equipment—Canada should seek off-the-shelf solutions from allies. For instance, acquiring proven fighter jets, submarines, and missile defense systems from partners like the United States or the United Kingdom would provide the CAF with reliable and quickly deployable assets. The focus should also shift toward emerging technologies that enhance force multiplication. Drones, autonomous underwater vehicles, and next-generation cyber warfare capabilities should be prioritized over traditional large-scale platforms that are costly and difficult to maintain. The battlefield of the future will be dominated by precision-strike capabilities, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems, and Canada must invest accordingly to remain a credible defense player.
Canada’s defense priorities are increasingly misaligned with its geographic and geopolitical realities. The country faces no serious conventional land threats, and its strategic interests lie overwhelmingly in maritime and aerospace domains. Yet, the Trudeau government has focused disproportionately on Indo-Pacific engagement while neglecting Canada’s most vital security frontier: the Arctic.
A Conservative government must make Arctic security a top defense priority. Russia has aggressively expanded its military presence in the High North, constructing new bases, modernizing icebreaker fleets, and deploying hypersonic weapons in the region. Meanwhile, China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and is increasing its scientific, economic, and strategic footprint in the region.
The Russian Navy is experiencing a resurgence, with new ships and submarines entering service despite ongoing challenges.
To secure the Arctic, Canada must significantly enhance its domain awareness and rapid response capabilities. This includes acquiring a fleet of ice-capable submarines, expanding Arctic air patrols with next-generation surveillance aircraft, and investing in permanent military infrastructure in the North. The establishment of forward-operating bases, capable of hosting rapid-response forces year-round, will send a clear signal that Canada takes Arctic sovereignty seriously.
None of these objectives will be possible without a serious commitment to increasing defense spending. Canada’s failure to meet the NATO standard of spending at least two percent of GDP on defense has not only weakened its military capabilities but also strained its credibility with allies. A Conservative government must make it clear that defense spending is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement for national security and allied cooperation. Meeting or exceeding the two percent threshold is the only way to ensure the CAF can recruit and retain personnel, procure the right technologies, and defend the Arctic effectively.
Without this commitment, any proposed military reforms will be hollow gestures rather than meaningful steps toward restoring Canada’s defense posture.
For Canada to be taken seriously on the world stage and to fulfill its commitments to NATO and NORAD, a Conservative government must pursue an unapologetically ambitious defense agenda. Improving recruitment and retention, investing in appropriate military technologies, and prioritizing Arctic defense are essential steps in reversing decades of neglect. These efforts, however, will only succeed if Canada commits to the necessary level of defense investment.
German Army Cpl. Vadim Ganshi, assigned to 2nd Company, Infantry Battalion 291, French German Brigade, awaits orders to fire a Panzerfaust 3. Vaziani, Republic of Georgia, Aug. 5, 2017. Noble Partner 17 supports Georgia in conducting home station training of its second NATO Response Force (NRF) contribution. Noble Partner will further enhance NFR and Operational Capabilities Concept interoperability and readiness in order to support regional stability. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Hayley Gardner).
If these reforms are enacted with urgency and resolve, Canada can rebuild a military that is not only capable of defending its sovereignty but also a reliable contributor to allied security. If not, Ottawa will remain an international laggard, unable to provide for its own defense, let alone support its allies in an era of rising global instability.
About the Author: Dr. Andrew Latham
Andrew Latham is a professor of international relations at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., a senior Washington fellow at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, and a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities in Washington, D.C. He regularly teaches courses on international security, Chinese foreign policy, war and peace in the Middle East, Regional Security in the Indo-Pacific Region, and the World Wars. Professor Latham has been published in outlets such as The Hill, The Diplomat, Canadian Defence Quarterly, The Conversation, Wavell Room/British Military Thought, Defense One, and Responsible Statecraft.
Roger
January 26, 2025 at 4:16 pm
This writer as no idea about the Canadian military what so ever. The last conservative government spent squat on the military…ZERO! Trudeau has spent more then ant PM in the last 70yrs. Trudeau as 15 new destroyers being built, just received the last Artic ice breaker of six, ordering 10-15 new Submarines, has ordered 88 F-35 fighter jets, spent a billion on Canadian shipyards so these destroyers fir the navy can ve built. Trudeau is putting in place 5 new Arctic outpost and refurbished the couple there now. Trudeau has bought a new military satellite and system, bought new Tanks, artillery cannons, millions on small arms, just received the largest Naval supply ship, he’s bought Drones and systems and storage and command building, Trudeau as purchased new Helecopiters ….and much more to list. Get your facts straight when writing about the Canadian military….idiots.
Mark Oliver
January 26, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Sounds simple enough except Trumps tariffs will drain the billions of investment required to start, even with removing all the built in political road blocks. Procurement for example has prioritized home grown benefits, from domestic design and construction to maintenance, adding years and billions for even basic items. That won’t change overnight. If the US desires Canada’s north to be meaningfully secure they’ll have to do it themselves because we’re to busy focused on the 49th parallel and the majority of the population that live they’re.
Dave
January 26, 2025 at 6:43 pm
Mostly agree with you, – my issue is with time lines.
Even if we get off the shelf fighters or submarines the training time line is going to make these very future oriented operational items. Just look how long it look to train the Ukrainians to get ready to fly and maintain those F16s.
I think we need some stop gaps that involve much shorter training time lines if we are to be effective now or in time for the Chinese invasion of Taiwan, or multi national challenges to our northern sovreignty. Not saying we give up on what you have proposed, but we may need something even sooner.
Just a couple ideas. Flood our infantry regiments with cheap portable anti tank weapons and single operator drones. Cheap, effective, low training time. Convert some old M113s so they have old AA style AD guns which have found renewed use against drones. Install a string of acoustic sensors in the northern passage and rather than attacking incursions with subs and ships use aerial drones, surface water drones, subsurface drones, and shore mounted anti ship missiles.
In some ways we have to start operating like a second world country, looking for the simpler cost effective options that are immediately ready, rather than the sophisticated solution that is a year or more away from being operational. (I am drawing a distinction here between sophisticated and unsophisticated drone technology).
This would not be our overarching strategy, just a phase in our development and rebuild.
David Hunt
January 26, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Not for public comme t but just wanted to say thanks for bringing more attention to our defence issues by reporting on it and stimulating discussion
Mark Roberts
January 26, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Oh Andrew. At what point do you fire inept leadership? How many years can the CAF claim it is transforming and modernizing recruiting? You touch on this, but the idea of pride of service is also under attack and the true leaders have been under attack. Recall how it started with an authoritative government trying to ruin RAdm Mark Norman. That said, its not a politcal directive that undermines what commitment and military service means. Undermining the service to Canada is the messaging coming from within that reinforces “Too many white men in uniform”. This is a message that has succeed. It leads to what Minister Blair called the personnel death spiral as the committed troops leave in droves, disappointed and frustrated.
Canada was built on the shoulders of giants that understood service before self and this is something descendants respect and want to be part of, but leaders of today want an armed force structured on individuality and personal identity reinforcing a grievance based environment that current leadership feeds into. The organization is not functional – it is fractionated.
The solution when you dont attract people in uniform is you grow the public service AND the civilian side has exploded. More advisors and analysts doing more for gender than generating a force. This is very evident in current culture shaping that is rapidly drifting from its heritage and putting in an agenda that disrespects the past and those currently in uniform. Ironically, the events that are seminole in defining Canada as its own nation are being erased and forgotten. Now we have leadership signing off and suggesting:
“At its roots, Canadian Defence culture cannot avoid being influenced by a legacy of colonialism, inherited as part of Canada’s colonial origins and still at work in many aspects of Canadian society today. Along with patriarchy, heteronormativity, and other systems, it has informed and influenced our organization’s norms and power structures. Members of the historically dominant group – typically male, white, heterosexual, and cis-gendered – continue to have advantages as a result of systems that have centered their perspectives and experiences. However, evolving Defence culture means everyone’s perspectives are valued and included – we all have the opportunity and responsibility to play an important role in our transformation.”
Who wants to sign on to toxicity and this is the root? Apparently the CAF no longer has respect for typically male, white, heterosexual, and cis-gendered individuals given all the advantages. Tell that to those who laid down their life. The problems are bigger than the equipment and mission. It’s being disparaging to the very essence of the armed force.
Ray
January 27, 2025 at 2:13 am
Should be noted that all the “New Purchases” are merely budget items over a 20 year period. Arctic bases/posts have been repeatedly “budgeted” for over 50 years. But keep getting axed. New subs were shelved for used ones that spend more time in dock. Communications systems have serious degradation issues due to the complex Arctic environment…
Upgrades were only a priority when bodies started returning from Afghanistan. After the war the government went back to business as usual.
Jim Stone
January 27, 2025 at 8:54 am
Off the shelf ready built equipment has failed to materialize for many years now, despite being procured and paid for. Military in Canada will never progress unless it becomes an actual industry that is intended to be a success and not just some political lip service.
Robert Black
January 27, 2025 at 9:13 am
The last Conservative government slashed defence spending even lower than the Liberals AND completely let the RCN rust out at the same time. What’s worse, is that Pollievre has stated he won’t commit to getting us to 2% before the current plan does. His biggest plan is cutting taxes, not funding thr CAF.
ross grant
January 27, 2025 at 9:23 am
All good info , sounds like we Canada needs to decide what and where we wana be down the road, I am ex Brit RA joining CAF grunts at age 57 , so I will let you know, lots of spots available for Canadian people wanting to kick in or rejoin 😉🫡🇨🇦
James Cox
January 27, 2025 at 10:17 am
One comment above touches on one of the real principal issues here – leadership, but so much military leadership as political leadership. Trudeau and his woke colleagues have slagged national institutions like the CAF, RCMP, and CSIS for years. Political leaders have displayed zero geostrategic sense and fortitude.
We need a real omnibus Canadian National Security Policy (NSP) that lays out what Canada wants to be when it grows up. It must define political goals to be achieved. Next, to implement that NSP, we need a National Security Grand Strategy (NSGS) that engages and mobilizes all elements of national power, making action a truly whole of society affair. It will define strategic objectives, priorities, central responsibilities, and general resourcing priorities. At the next level, we can deal with subordinate strategies (defence, domestic security, regional strategies, etc.). In all this we need defined goals to be achieved, not just ‘things to do’ (like peacekeeping). Only after all this, do we need to descend into the niggly bickering about getting ships, planes and tanks. We need a big, national, intellectual effort not seen since 1939.
Until these bigger issues are settled, we don’t really know why we need a navy, army, or air force, or equipment, of any kind.
Finally, stop all this DEI/woke crap and restore the profession of arms to an honourable merit-based endeavour that is loyal to the country, composed of Canadians of any kind melded into a cohesive team that treats everyone with respect, and is led by leaders whose appointment is based entirely on merit.
Guy Mattar
January 27, 2025 at 4:03 pm
Finally someone has put it bluntly, let’s hope our politicians seize upon the urgency of the situation
David Chura
January 27, 2025 at 6:03 pm
If you think this liberal government has done more than those of the past
Where is your brains ?
You don’t buy used equipment for defense
such wasteful money on useless subs is a joke
And spending money outside of Canada for products that can be made here
Is definitely a worthless cause, when you can keep real Canadians employed,
Every liberal should never have a pension for the uselessness they gave to Canada/
Rodney Kenny
January 27, 2025 at 9:32 pm
This whole article was about fantastical fantasies of what a conservative government might do! Almost seems like this guy doesn’t know what a conservative government is?
There is nothing wrong with having respect for everyone in the military. Please stop with the “anti-woke”bs! Recognizing ones wrongs and correcting them does not make you weak, it actually shows you’re strong!!
Conservatives are not going to fix the Military! They will make more cuts and remove anything scientific as they are anti-science. They may spend more on the military, but not on the soldiers!
Barth Moss
January 27, 2025 at 11:22 pm
As a firsthand observer for 39 years of employment
… I can guarantee that the Cons under a New Leader like po-I-LIE-vre taking over
… Will not improve the CAF …
This article says “could” which may be appropriate , the same as would and should …
Never will.is more like it !!
Wait til Donaldevil makes Good with
mr pp po po !
Swamplaw Yankee
January 28, 2025 at 5:45 am
Hard to believe but Andrew and the above 12 apostles need to start their own traplines.
The Geopolitical reality for Trump is that the population of Canada seems to be drinking Kool aid. Period.
If the Canuck population was still cognitive, what would be their list of military aims? Let’s speculate.
Prime is: Immediately Convince Trump to save the WEST. Every Canadian has to demand that the WEST is saved for the long term. Only Trump can demand The 100% return of all ancient Ukrainian soil, specifically Sevastopol. The eviction of Orc Muscovite genociders from that vital soil /territory will allow the WEST to defend Europe from the Gog and Magog invaders. Otherwise, Trump needs to inform the snoring Israelis that the USA can not defend the Jewish faithful in any long-term geostrategies.
If Trump becomes brain weak + gives away Ukrainian Victory, WEST victory, the USA resigns to being a loser.
Yeah, the parasites in Canuck + even some Yankees will get hernias screaming they are still winners. Nope!
Once Crimea and Sevastopol are lost, the Orc Muscovites will promptly use their new geostrategy.
Canada will get the “Spratley Island” doctrine. That is the best doctrine all Canada speaks about daily. How every Canadian made sure that they kept their mouths shut as the “Spratley Islands” were slowly lost to the Commies. It is Called geopolitics.
The Orc Muscovites can move in from their north right down into Hudson and James Bay.
At the same time, Gog moves their unlimited military thru former Ukrainian soil and water into very close attack position.
Attack who?
Well, who does God tell you they will attack? Oh, you believe the anti Bible cabal now taking root in Canada. Sure. The earth is flat, we know. Not.
So, we all know Israel is now undefendable. The Orc Muscovite has stolen enough tech from Ukrainian drone makers to drone equip the Gog military.
Israel has no, like zero, defence in the low sky unless Israel begs the Ukrainian youth to come over to help defend them. When Gog attacks Israel again, the Yankee must then spend all their so precious bucks defending Israel. Or, weasal word to not do so.
Then, the Orc Muscovites can move as far south from their slave empire as they want. The orc Muscovite has millions of captive men they can send to overwhelm any possible Canadian defence.
Ukraine has 800,000 plus in the Ukrainian military now. And, just somewhat stopping Gog supplied, orc Muscovite drone attacks.
Wow, does Andrew want to place his big bet. Canada can not stop a single Orc Muscovite Drone attack. How much cash, Andrew?
Maybe, if Canada immediately expends more than 5% GNP on helping immediate Ukrainian Victory, the future geostrategy will slightly alter.
William Craddock
January 28, 2025 at 1:31 pm
As a former 6 yr. U.S. Navy Submarine Bubblehead and 17 yr. Army National Guard Vet. I had the Honor of knowing Vets of our WW 2 Merchant Marine who owed their Lives to the active protection against Hitler’s U Boat Wolfpacks your Royal Canadian Navy fought and provided for by your brave Sailors manning your Corvettes, Frigates and Destroyer Escorts. Your ASW/Anti-Submarine Warfare was the World’s third largest ensuring supplies for survival landed in England, ensuring the survival of His Majesty’s Crown, as well the survival of European/World Liberty. When you reinvigorate your overdue Military prowess progress in the latest successful Frontline tactics, with Lessons paid for in Blood by our Ukrainean Brothers and Sisters in Arms, the recall of excellence in Bravery and Battle Canada’s shown in WW2 and Korea in past struggles will sweep away the need for DEI, particularly if Selective Service is considered as an excellent path for all of Canada’s Men and Women of all backgrounds are brought in P/T or Full Time basis for her Defense.Slava Ukraine and Slava Canada !