The Department of National Defence is currently strategizing on the logistics of outfitting, arming, and training a substantial influx of new reservists proposed under an ambitious mobilization plan, which the top military official in Canada characterizes as a dynamic initiative in the works. A specialized role has been established within the department to specifically focus on expanding the military in anticipation of potential large-scale emergencies.
According to internal documents obtained by CBC News, the expansion of the military is expected to progress gradually due to challenges faced by the defense industry, which is currently overwhelmed or ill-prepared for a rapid escalation. The establishment of a new director general position is a pioneering move, as acknowledged by a defense expert, tasked with the formidable responsibility of deploying 100,000 reserve troops and an additional 300,000 citizen soldiers in a supplementary reserve, in addition to the existing 85,500 full-time military personnel.
The defense department acknowledged in a presentation dated July 2025 that existing resources are reaching their limits, affecting the re-equipping of the regular military forces. The success of this new mobilization effort hinges on a cautious intake process due to constraints in inventory, storage, and contractual capacities.
Gen. Jennie Carignan, the Chief of the Defence Staff, mentioned that the military is currently in the initial stages of exploring options to present to the federal government, with a target timeframe of spring for proposing potential strategies. The primary focus at this stage is on defining the roles and responsibilities of this proposed strategic reserve, primarily intended for domestic deployment.
A directive signed by Carignan and deputy defence minister Stefanie Beck outlines the broad scope of utilizing the supplementary reserve for various scenarios ranging from natural disaster responses to large-scale combat operations. Carignan emphasized the necessity of organized responses to potential threats like missile strikes, highlighting the need for a prepared and agile military force.
The new mobilization office within the Defence Department is set to oversee the significant expansion of part-time military forces and is expected to be staffed by a team comprised of officers and civilian defense employees. The scale of the proposed mobilization poses substantial challenges as military planners grapple with global supply chain constraints for military-grade equipment and the associated procurement costs.
Notably, the presentation suggested that some members of the supplementary reserve could receive hand-me-down uniforms due to lengthy lead times for clothing procurement. Industry support for retooling processes is deemed essential to meet the demands of this extensive military expansion initiative.
Experts, including Christian Leuprecht from the Royal Military College of Canada, underscore the unprecedented nature of this mobilization effort and the complexity of simultaneously reconstituting the regular force, expanding the primary reserve, and establishing the supplementary reserve. Leuprecht likened the undertaking to building an aircraft while airborne, emphasizing the multifaceted challenges of recruitment, training, equipping, and deploying a significantly larger military force.
Vincent Rigby, a former national security adviser, emphasized the importance of effective communication and public engagement in garnering support for such a substantial military endeavor, especially in a peacetime scenario where the necessity for a robust defense posture may not be readily apparent to the public.
Peter Kasurak, a historian and defense policy fellow, expressed skepticism about the strategic rationale behind rapidly expanding the military forces and raised concerns about the readiness and training levels of the proposed reserve personnel. The directive outlining the potential legislative activation of reserve members for overseas duties raised questions about the voluntary nature of the service.
Despite these challenges, Carignan remains optimistic about the recruitment prospects, citing increased interest from Canadians in contributing to national security amidst deteriorating global conditions. Surveys indicate a willingness among Canadians to actively participate in bolstering the country’s defense capabilities.
