The Canadian government is contemplating a significant 20% pay increase for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), a promise initially made by former Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. In addition to directly affecting universal service, this proposed increase would dramatically impact the overall CAF compensation envelope. It’s a promising and important step to address longstanding challenges in military compensation and the recruitment crisis.
Retired Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie was among those who welcomed McGuinty’s pledge, calling it “long overdue.” He said that increase could not be overemphasized. It’s especially important given the challenges the military is facing today—from an acute people crisis to deteriorating quality of life on military installations. The CAF is already 13,000 regular and primary reserve personnel short. This deficit highlights the severe recruitment crisis that former defense minister Bill Blair warned last year had resulted in a “death spiral.”
Gaëlle Rivard Piché, another military advocate, hailed the raise as a “fantastic first step.” She cautioned that this goal could be easier to attain than notions of robust improvement suggest when weighed against other hurdles facing the military. Rivard Piché emphasized the consequences of delays in fundamental and apprenticeship training. These failures repel prospective recruits from completing their course of training and serving on active duty.
Laurent de Casanove further elaborated on the implications of this investment, stating, “This investment represents an almost 20 per cent increase to the overall CAF compensation envelope.” The Department of National Defence and the CAF are now looking at different options for implementation. De Casanove noted that industries could provide retention bonuses for more stressful trades. They should do all of that while increasing entry-level pay for junior staff and adopting an overall salary increase.
Experts diverge on the details of what that pay bump should look like. National research director Gary Walbourne criticized McGuinty’s promise, calling it “vague at best.” He called on Ottawa to focus on direct pay for lower ranks and address regional disparities in the cost of living. He got specific, keying in on what the 20% increase would mean.
“What is clear to me from this statement is that they are looking at all the options,” remarked Charlotte Duval-Lantoine. She warned that a pay raise doesn’t guarantee an unchanged salary boost for all. “A 20 per cent increase overall to CAF compensation envelope, what does that mean? Is it coming in benefits? … Is it going to be on a cyclical basis? What’s the percentage increase? Is it based on seniority, rank, merit?” she asked.
Leslie noted other acute problems inside the CAF that need to be addressed right away. He noted that a high percentage of buildings and housing units on bases are in dire need of maintenance. Many of these structures are 60 to 80 years old. He stated, “Black mould exists in a variety of national defence buildings. There are some bases that don’t have drinking water.” Leslie emphasized the need to address these conditions in addition to any salary increases that are being proposed.
He continued to highlight the need for sufficient funding not just for people, but for equipment and training that is required to be effective. “As well, you’ve got to make sure that you have money for equipment, money for training, money to create the stockpiles of stuff you’re going to need should the worst happen — i.e., war,” he said.
Rivard Piché, even with these challenges, continues to hold out hope that the proposed pay increase will happen. “Quite frankly, a 20 per cent pay increase is outstanding, and I compliment the leaders who made that decision,” she remarked.
