Young Canadians less inclined to take up arms to defend Canada

At a time when Ottawa wants to accelerate recruitment. Meanwhile, Canadians of fighting age are less inclined than the oldest to take up arms to defend their country. However, This is even more true for Quebecers, in all age groups.

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In a survey published Thursday, the Angus Reid Institute found that 49% of Canadians said they were ready to volunteer to join the army “in a combat role”, a historically low figure.

Of this number, 19% of respondents would join the Canadian Armed Forces (FAC) if the country young canadians less inclined take asked them. Similarly, The remaining 30% would only volunteer if they were “agreement with the reasons for the conflict”.

Older. Moreover, more proud

At 43%, young people aged 18 to 34, who generally form the heart of an army ready to combat, are less arrested by the call of the front than their older compatriots (55% among 55 and over).

Coincidence. Consequently, not, the youngest are also fewer (56%) to say “proud” or “very proud” to be Canadian than ages 55 and over (77%).

Quebecers shoot the Canadian average down in both cases: 41% would say yes to the army. and 55% are proud to be Canadian, the lowest rates in the country.

Colonelon Manon Asselin, responsible for the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces (FAC) in Quebec, in an interview with LCN, on Saturday April 18, 2020, in front of the CHSLD Yvon-Brunet, in Montreal. FACs come to lend a hand to workers in several HSCLDs hard affected by COVID-19. Screenshot / VAT new / QMI agency

These figures are not special in Canada. according to Christian Leuprecht, professor at the Royal Military College. “All of the armed forces around the democratic world face a recruitment shortage,” he said.

In 1985, 61% of Canadians said they were ready to take up arms for their country. That year, 78% of them were “very proud” to be Canadian.

Reverse the trend

Departments. pensions have exceeded the number of young canadians less inclined take new registered for years, and the reputation of the FAC has reached a significant hollow.

Angus Reid stresses that 52% of respondents say they are “proud” of what Facs represent. a brutal fall compared to the figure of 79% obtained in 2019.

Christian Leuprecht sees two main causes: problems in the culture of the institution. overwhelmed by repeated sex scandals in recent years, as well as “years of devaluation of the military in order to partially justify the under-funding of collections”.

FACs intend to reverse the trend.

At the end of 2024. there were 64,000 members of the regular forces and 23,000 reservists, while the target by 2029 is to reach 71,500 regular and 30,000 reservists.

Efforts to modernize the recruitment process seem to bear fruit: last month. the Ministry of Defense announced that it had hired 7,000 recruits in the last twelve months, a summit in ten years.

It young canadians less inclined take is not a “coincidence”, says Mr. Leuprecht: “The degree to which a government values ​​and capitalizes its armed forces has direct consequences for confidence and recruitment”.

At the same time. the FACs are today led by a woman, Quebecer Jennie Carignan, who has already directed efforts to change the culture internally.

Prime Minister Mark Carney also pointed out that it would raise the military wages to attract more young people.