Canada Auditor General Report Only 1 in 13 Candidates Successfully Recruited by Armed Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) continue to face significant recruitment challenges, jeopardizing their operational capacity. According to the Canada Auditor General, Karen Hogan, only 1 in 13 candidates is successfully recruited, despite thousands applying annually. Hogan presented these findings in one of six reports released recently.
Recruitment Challenges Highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report
This ongoing issue poses a serious risk to the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force’s ability to respond to threats, emergencies, and conflicts. Hogan noted that these recruitment difficulties have been identified in three previous reports since 2002.
Statistics on Recruitment Efforts
- Between 2022 and 2025, CAF aimed to recruit 19,700 new members.
- Only 15,000 new members were successfully recruited during this period.
- 192,000 candidates applied online, but over half, totaling 103,700, withdrew or failed to follow up.
- Only 8% of candidate files, approximately 15,101, were closed by recruiters.
Hogan emphasized the inability of the National Defence to understand why so many candidates drop out of the process. The average recruitment timeline exceeds 250 days, far above the established standard of 100 to 150 days. This delay may push potential recruits to seek employment elsewhere.
Concerns Over Living Conditions
Housing issues also play a role in recruitment struggles. Hogan’s report highlights severe deterioration in living conditions at military bases in Esquimalt (British Columbia), Gagetown (New Brunswick), and Trenton (Ontario). Many facilities lack access to potable water and have inadequate sewage systems, exacerbating retention and recruitment issues.
Recommendations for Improvement
The Auditor General issued several recommendations aimed at enhancing recruitment processes. These include:
- Modernizing recruitment technology.
- Understanding the reasons candidates withdraw from the recruitment process.
- Improving communication between recruitment officials and candidates.
In response, Defence Minister David McGuinty acknowledged the issues and stated that significant investments have been made in the CAF and Defence systems. This includes substantial salary increases to bolster recruitment and retention efforts.
Government Initiatives and Future Goals
As part of broader military investment goals, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a 20% salary increase for regular force members to aid recruitment efforts. This initiative aligns with Canada’s commitment to reach 2% of its GDP on defense spending as outlined by NATO, aiming for 5% by 2035.
Currently, the Canadian Armed Forces can have a maximum of 71,500 regular force members and 30,000 in the primary reserve. However, they currently fall short, with only 65,154 members in the regular force and 23,561 in the primary reserve as of April 30, 2025.
In summary, the recruitment challenges within the Canadian Armed Forces present a complex issue involving recruitment timelines, candidate dropout rates, and inadequate living conditions. Addressing these factors is crucial for meeting future military objectives.
