Are the Canadian Forces facing the darkness of a new decade amid continuing personnel challenges and increasing demands on the force from around the world?
“History will tell,” said Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre In an interview with The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson, broadcast in full on Sunday.
“I think it’s too early to say … if this is a decade of darkness. I certainly have faced some challenges in this situation, and the armed forces at large face some challenges, ” They said.
“But our job is to do everything that we can within our power to make it better, to be prepared.”
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In addition to a shortage of recruits, the Canadian Army has long faced challenges in procuring new equipment, maintaining older gear and tracking down replacement parts.
There are also ongoing questions about whether the federal government will pursue contract replacements for other equipment such as weapons, gear and ammunition that the Canadian Forces are donating to Ukraine in the billions.
While military officials are not pinning blame on any one issue with regard to recruitment and retention problems, in recent years the Canadian Forces have been rocked by a sexual misconduct crisis that, along with a widespread focus on systemic racism, has plagued the highest ranks. is also touched.
The reputational problem is compounded by concerns about the presence of right-wing extremists and racism in the ranks, as said in a review last year There were factors “turning” the new recruits unfavourable.
But the compounding problems come at a time when the world is becoming increasingly more volatile and uncertain – one Defense Minister Anita Anand said last year was growing “darker” and more “chaotic”.
“We can still respond very quickly, but are we big enough to need that? And so we need to work on all those factors,” Eyre said.
“I am concerned as we see signs of increased demand around the world and here at home, as our security situation worsens globally. And this means the country will need more than the Canadian Armed Forces in years to come. More will be needed.”
Eyre said he is concerned about factors that are Canadian military Unprepared for future challenges as the global security situation continues to “deteriorate”.
The full interview will air on Sunday at 11am.
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