Defence Minister Says Personnel Shortage a ‘Death Spiral’ for Military, Presses for Speedier Recruiting of Non-Citizens

Defence Minister Bill Blair says the personnel shortage plaguing the Canadian Armed Forces amounts to a “death spiral.” “Over the past three years, more people have left than have entered,” said the minister after his speech which opened the 92nd Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence on March 7. “That is frankly … it’s a death spiral for the Canadian Armed Forces, we cannot afford to continue on that pace.” Mr. Blair made several announcements at the conference, including on boosting the domestic production of 155mm artillery shells and launching a new policy on artificial intelligence. But he said the top defence priority always needs to be the people who serve in uniform....