Canadian Forces Chief of Military Personnel and Commander of Military Personnel Command Lt-Gen. Erick Simoneau responds to a question during a briefing about recruitment efforts in Ottawa on April 20, 2026. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
The Canadian Armed Forces says it is changing its recruitment policies after a report raised concerns about challenges linked to an easing of recruitment standards, including a rise in mental health cases, language barriers, and cultural infighting.
The concerns appeared in a report prepared in January by Lieutenant-Colonel M.R. Kieley, commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruitment School (CFLRS) in Quebec. The report, which included a series of recommendations to boost the quality of applicants, was leaked to the media and first covered by Juno News on April 28.
