Defence officials say the Canadian Armed Forces has recorded its strongest recruitment numbers in 30 years, with permanent residents accounting for roughly one-fifth of all new recruits.
The Department of National Defence (DND) says the last fiscal year saw the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recruit 7,310 new Regular Force members, beating its target by over 350. The CAF had recruited 6,710 new soldiers in fiscal 2024-2025.
The development is the result of “sustained efforts,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said on April 20, while acknowledging more work needs to be done to train the new recruits.
Internal CAF data previously indicated that attrition was highest among its most junior and newest members, with training delays identified as a key factor driving their departure from the force….