State of Canadian Armed Forces' combat readiness growing worse, government report warns

Only 58 per cent of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) would be able to respond if called upon in a crisis by NATO allies right now — and almost half of the military's equipment is considered "unavailable and unserviceable" — says a recent internal Department of National Defence (DND) presentation obtained by CBC News.

The presentation, which touches on everything from readiness and equipment to recruiting and ammunition supplies, is dated Dec. 31, 2023.

It's the latest comprehensive snapshot of the state of the military.

The overview paints an alarming picture of the forces' decline in readiness — one that's even worse than the figures presented in last year's federal budget documents.

"In an increasingly dangerous world, where demand for the CAF is increasing, our readiness is decreasing," says the document.

The issue of military readiness has preoccupied the House of Commons defence committee. The committee held a series of closed-door meetings last year where MPs could discuss sensitive information with top military commanders.

A handful of new public opinion surveys published Tuesday suggest the number of Canadians concerned about military preparedness and the country's presence on the world stage is growing. One of the polls, by the Angus Reid Institute, found 29 per cent of Canadians surveyed listed those two issues as their top political priorities — a substantial jump from the 12 per cent recorded a decade ago.

That same survey found support for Canada meeting NATO's military spending benchmark for member countries — two per cent of the gross domestic product — stands at 53 per cent. Support for hitting the two per cent goal jumps to 65 per cent when poll respondents are asked about the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency in the U.S.

The internal DND presentation shows that only 58 per cent of "committed CAF force elements ready to meet NATO notice move" could respond to the call in the event of major hostilities.

Canada is obliged to commit certain army, navy and air force units to the defence of Europe in an emergency — units that would reinforce troops already in the field, such as the Canadian-led brigade in Latvia.

The presentation shows 45 per cent of the Canadian military's equipment set aside for the defence of Europe faces "challenges" and is considered "unavailable and unserviceable."

The presentation says the air force is currently in the worst shape of all the CAF forces, with 55 per cent of "fighters, maritime aviation, search and rescue, tactical aviation, trainers and transport" considered "unserviceable."

The navy is not too far behind, with 54 per cent of its "frigates, submarines, Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and defence vessels" in no state to deploy, the presentation warns.

The army fares slightly better, with only 46 per cent of its equipment considered "unserviceable."