Following the tabling of the Auditor General of Canada's report on Recruiting for Canada's Military, the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David McGuinty, issued the following statement:
"I welcome the findings and recommendations in the Auditor General's report on Recruiting for Canada's Military tabled in Parliament today. We agree with the recommendations and acknowledge the areas identified for improvement. A number of initiatives referenced in the recommendations have already been implemented or are being initialized, demonstrating proactive leadership and a commitment to tangible outcomes to build a more effective, inclusive, and responsive recruitment and training system.
"Recruiting and training the right people are essential for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to meet Canada's defence needs. Over the past year, the CAF has made significant progress in modernizing its recruitment system, strengthening training capacity, and improving the overall applicant experience.
"From April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, the CAF enrolled 6,706 new members into the Regular Force, surpassing the annual goal of 6,496 recruits. This represents the highest number of enrolments in the past decade and a 55% increase over the previous year, clear evidence that recent changes are delivering results.
"The Government of Canada recently announced a compensation and benefits package which represents a significant investment in the military's most important resource - its people - and will support, recognize and fairly compensate our members in uniform for their service, now and into the future. The package includes the largest pay raise in a generation, from 8% to 20% depending on rank, and a new military service pay to recognize years of service. Other initiatives increase support for frequent moves and separation from families, and exposure to adverse environmental conditions. To directly reinforce success in recruiting, there is a recruitment allowance for stressed occupations and an instructor allowance for personnel at designated training schools and the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School. Attracting and retaining skilled instructors and fully staffing training establishments is a strategic investment in Canada's defence capabilities. These initiatives will be rolled out over the next year.
"On the recruiting front, the CAF has already implemented several modernization initiatives, including the introduction of the Scored Employment Application Form, a new Online Applicant Portal, a new probation period and updated medical and assessment standards to expedite applications and reduce barriers for qualified candidates. Modernization efforts are part of a broader, long-term CAF reconstitution strategy, which is accompanied by investments in recruitment and training to rebuild and strengthen the CAF, and meet the demands of domestic and international operations.
"We are building a more robust recruiting and training system, and we will dedicate the resources needed to be successful. Along with the instructor allowance, recruit training will be maximized at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School at St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with additional surge capacity available at Canadian Forces Base Borden. The CAF is leaning forward and investing in additional infrastructure and support systems relating to equipment and personnel, to increase the recruiting and training establishment capacity. While these investments may take some time to implement, they will support reliable training capacity over the longer term.
"The CAF continues to build a more modern, effective, and inclusive military, supported by digital tools and data-driven processes. Work is ongoing to improve efficiency, reduce delays, and align recruitment and training systems with the evolving needs of the organization and of Canadians.
"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."
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Reports of the Auditor General of Canada
