Canada’s military misses recruitment target by 4,700 troops
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A new audit finds Canada’s Armed Forces fell short of recruitment goals by 4,700 troops, as long delays and backlogs threaten operational readiness.
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Canadian Armed Forces soldiers construct a firebreak in Parker Recreation Field in Yellowknife to help fight wildfires on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. (AP)
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have fallen short of their recruitment goals, enlisting around 15,000 servicepeople between 2022 and 2025, nearly 4,700 fewer than planned, according to a report released Tuesday by Auditor General Karen Hogan.
Hogan tabled the 2025 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the House of Commons, which included a section titled “Recruiting for Canada’s Military.” The audit found that CAF’s recruitment shortfall threatens operational readiness across all branches of the military, including the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
“During the period of the audit, the Canadian Armed Forces planned to recruit just over 19,700 new recruits but recruited only around 15,000,” the report said, noting that nearly 192,000 applications were submitted between April 2022 and March 2025.
Delays and backlogs hinder recruitment efforts
The audit also highlighted significant delays in the recruitment process. While CAF aimed to onboard recruits within 150 days, the actual processing time stretched to between 245 and 271 days. Over the three-year period, the backlog of pending security and quality checks also grew from 20,000 to 23,000 cases, further straining recruitment timelines.
“The continuing gaps in Canadian Armed Forces personnel could affect the Canadian Army’s, the Royal Canadian Navy’s, and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s abilities to respond to threats, emergencies, or conflicts,” Hogan’s report warned.
Canadian Minister of National Defense David McGuinty responded to the report, welcoming its findings and promising reforms to address the issues raised. “We will continue to act on the Auditor General’s recommendations and remain accountable for delivering measurable progress in building the strong and ready military that Canada needs,” McGuinty said in a statement.
