Defence Minister David McGuinty says the federal government’s emerging plan to expand Canada’s military reserves—potentially by as many as 400,000 people—is primarily aimed at strengthening the country’s civil emergency response capacity rather than preparing large numbers of volunteers for combat. The proposal, being developed by Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan, is expected to be presented to the Carney government by spring as part of a broader national mobilization strategy.
In a year-end interview, McGuinty emphasized that although the mobilization plan is significant, his foremost priority is using the more than $80-billion allocated in the November budget to rearm and rebuild the Canadian Armed Forces. He outlined immediate goals such as recruiting 12,000 to 15,000 new personnel across the regular and reserve forces, upgrading 33 military bases, improving the military health system, and boosting recruitment capabilities. “We are focusing on the big priorities first,” he said, adding that the mobilization plan will be addressed once it comes up for formal approval and funding.
McGuinty praised Gen. Carignan for tapping into Canadians’ eagerness to serve, noting that similar civil emergency organizations established in Ontario and Quebec were filled quickly by volunteers. He said the envisioned reservist roles would be largely part-time—weekends, evenings, and on-call support for emergencies—reflecting a model aimed at community assistance rather than full-time military readiness.
The draft plan proposes raising the primary reserve from about 23,500 to 100,000 and expanding the supplementary reserve—from former CAF members willing to return in an emergency—from 4,300 to 300,000. A directive issued in May outlines potential uses for these expanded reserves, ranging from natural disaster response to large-scale combat scenarios.
Internationally, senior military leaders in Europe have recently warned of rising security threats from Russia. British and German defence chiefs have suggested NATO countries should be prepared for potential conflict with Moscow within the next decade. When asked about the likelihood of Canada entering a war with Russia, McGuinty declined to speculate, though he underscored that Russia remains a major threat. He pointed to Russia’s shift to a war-focused economy and continued aggression as reasons why Canada must reinvest in its military. “The world is becoming a more rough and tumble place,” he said, adding that strengthening the CAF is essential for responding to global instability.
McGuinty also said Canada is assessing what role it might play if a ceasefire or peace settlement emerges in Ukraine. Several European countries—including Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Croatia and Serbia—have reinstated or proposed mandatory military service in response to Russian aggression. Others, such as Belgium, Poland, France, and Germany, are exploring voluntary service models. Nations like Denmark, Estonia and Finland maintained conscription even after the Cold War.
Despite geopolitical tensions, McGuinty stressed that much of his focus is on improving core infrastructure within the military—everything from electrical systems and water treatment to base housing and food services. He noted that modernizing facilities is essential for attracting and retaining skilled recruits. “You want me to recruit the young physics graduate from Queen’s who wants to fly helicopters,” he said. “I can’t keep her unless she’s got Wi-Fi on the base.”
