Canadian Military Boasts Record Recruitment, Boosted by Intake of 1,400 Permanent Residents

Minister of National Defence David McGuinty holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 20, 2026. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

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.