Global order is ‘faltering,’ Canada’s defence chief warns amid recruitment worries

'The military that we have today is not the military that we need for the threats that are appearing in the future,' Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre warned.

Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre warned members of Parliament on Thursday that the rules-based international order is “faltering” and must be “defended” — but said Canada’s capacity to do so is also under strain.

The Canadian Armed Forces have been struggling to bolster their ranks as they grapple with an unprecedented personnel crisis, forcing Eyre to order an immediate halt to all non-essential activities to focus on military recruitment and retention.

“The military that we have today is not the military that we need for the threats that are appearing in the future,” Eyre told MPs during Thursday’s public safety committee meeting.

“Our readiness is going down within the Canadian Armed Forces.”

The Armed Forces are supposed to be adding about 5,000 troops to the regular and reserve forces to meet a growing list of demands, but are instead short more than 10,000 trained members – meaning about one in 10 positions are currently vacant, according to The Canadian Press.

This shortage, Eyre said, has him “very, very worried.”

The shortage comes at a time when global stability itself is at risk, according to Eyre.

“The rules-based international order, which has underpinned world stability and indeed our national prosperity for generations, is faltering. It needs to be defended,” he said.