Better to be too ambitious than not ambitious enough.
A combination of a more unstable geopolitical situation and a surge in military spending has the Canadian Department of National Defence thinking big. After years of having to try and do the impossible – provide a credible national defence without the financial resources to do so – the Canadian Armed Forces may now have the opposite challenge: How to spend an influx of funds.
And already, some ambitious ideas are starting to circulate:
“The Canadian military has set in motion an initiative to increase the number of its part-time soldiers from the current 28,000 to 400,000 as part of an overall mobilization plan, according to a directive approved by senior leaders.
The directive, signed by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan and defence deputy minister Stefanie Beck on May 30, 2025, outlines the need to increase the current reserve force from 23,561 to 100,000 and supplementary and other reserves from the current 4,384 to 300,000.”
A more than tenfold increase in the size of the Canadian Reserve Force would be a huge undertaking, and raises the question of whether it’s realistic. However, I would argue that it’s about time we see some ambitious ideas to strengthen Canada’s defences.
As for how realistic the plan is, even making progress toward the goal would provide significant benefits to Canada, assuming it’s combined with broader improvements in the infrastructure that supports the CAF.
A large expansion of the Canadian Reserve Force would address many of the challenges facing young Canadians. It would foster a sense of community, connection to the country, and put money into the hands of young people. Further, it would help provide young people with important skills that would have lifelong benefits.
There would also be benefits for Canada’s military industry. A massive expansion of the Reserve Force would require mass production of small arms, uniforms, body armour, transport vehicles, light tactical vehicles, drones, drone training centres, barracks, and more. If the money spent on this military expansion was directed towards Canadian firms – or at least mostly toward Canadian firms – the economic benefits would be notable, and the long-term economic resilience of our country would be enhanced.
This is the case for much of Canada’s impending military buildup. If directed largely towards Canadian companies – with strong accountability and oversight to make sure spending is translated into production – it will be an important economic and social stimulus at a time when both our economy and our social fabric are under stress.
So, realistic or not in the short term, even attempting to hit such a lofty target will benefit Canada in the long term.
Spencer Fernando
Image – YouTube
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