The Canadian Armed Forces is giving itself an additional seven years to meet its equipment readiness requirements for the army and navy, as well as pushing back the dates for when it will meet its personnel readiness targets.
For aerospace readiness, the department now plans to meet the target by March 31, 2032, compared to its previous goal of March 2028.
The Department of National Defence said it has revised the dates to achieve targets for certain indicators to ensure they are “realistic and achievable.” It said that meeting the targets within the previous year’s time frame is “not feasible.”
“The new dates are more accurate and align with the department’s long-term strategic objectives and planned defence investments, reflecting a commitment to driving significant improvements,” the report added.
Weeks later, Canada signed on to a NATO pledge to increase military spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035, with 3.5 percent GDP on core defence spending and an additional 1.5 percent for defence-related expenditures such as critical infrastructure. Carney has said Canada would need to triple its current military expenditure to meet this target, raising it to $150 billion.
In the 2023–24 fiscal year, just 67 percent of force elements were ready for operations “in accordance with established targets,” compared to the target of at least 90 percent.
When it came to maritime key fleets that were able to meet training, readiness, and operational requirements, that number was at 46 percent compared to the target of at least 60 percent. For land and aerospace assets, the serviceability results were at 49 percent compared to the target of at least 70 percent.
The report also noted that while 89 percent of the regular force establishment and 78 percent of reserve positions are filled compared to a goal of 95 percent, occupations with “critical shortfalls” reached 73 percent compared to the target of less than 5 percent.
Defence Minister David McGuinty said in the report that the Canadian Armed Forces will prioritize recruitment and retention in the coming year, “with an emphasis on evolving recruitment processes and personnel management.” He added that Canada’s defence industry is being boosted by the joining of ReArm Europe, which allows it to partake in a European loan program for joint defence projects.
“I am confident in the professionalism, integrity, and dedication of our people and the entire Defence Team to deliver on this plan and respond effectively to the challenges that lie ahead,” McGuinty said.
