CAF sees rise in demand due to natural weather disasters, faces personnel shortage
Global News
The Canadian Armed Forces are feeling the strain of increased demand as calls to respond to natural disasters increase.
The Canadian Armed Forces are feeling the strain of demand as calls to respond to natural disasters increase.
On Tuesday, Maj-Gen. Paul Prévost, a senior officer with the Strategic Joint Staff, addressed the House of Commons committee on National Defense and told MPs the anticipated increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather events across Canada, as well as the broader changes in the Arctic, may lead to growing demands for military emergency assistance.
“It is best to think of the Canadian Forces as the force of last resort,” Prevost told members of the all-party committee.
He said there has already been increased demand on the Canadian Armed Forces over the last decade to respond to floods, fires and snow storms.
In 2021, the military received seven requests to respond to provincial natural disasters.
That compares to four requests per year between 2017 and 2021. The military received an average of two requests per year from 2010 to 2017.
“In other words, the Canadian Armed Forces involvement in response to natural disasters has broadly doubled every five years since 2010,” Prévost said.
The rising demand comes at a time when the Canadian Armed Forces are going through recruitment challenges.
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