Historic Defence Investment Meets Human Challenges
The Canadian government has made an unprecedented commitment to rebuild its military capabilities with an $84-billion increase in defence spending over five years. This substantial budget demonstrates Ottawa's resolve to strengthen national security. However, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) confronts equally historic challenges in recruitment and retention that threaten to undermine these ambitions.
The Hidden Struggles of Military Families
While recent pay increases for military personnel represent a necessary step forward, Canada must address the core issue affecting retention: military family support. The unique demands of military life create invisible burdens that civilians rarely see. Frequent relocations across provincial borders create systemic barriers in healthcare access, childcare availability, housing affordability, and professional licensing for spouses.
When members receive new postings, families often lose their family doctors, face years-long childcare waitlists, and encounter housing markets where they cannot compete financially. Spouses repeatedly sacrifice meaningful careers due to licensing restrictions that don't transfer between provinces. Each move forces families to rebuild their lives from scratch, creating chronic instability that erodes morale and financial security.
Family Well-Being as National Security Priority
The consequences extend beyond personal stress to directly impact military effectiveness. The auditor general's recent report on military housing confirmed widespread issues with substandard housing units and extensive waitlists. However, the problems run deeper than physical infrastructure. When family pressures become overwhelming, service members face impossible choices between their commitment to Canada and their family's wellbeing.
This dilemma weakens operational readiness, drains valuable talent, and costs the Forces millions in lost training and experience. Family resilience must be recognized as a fundamental pillar of operational readiness, not merely a social concern. As Canada enters this period of historic defence investment, the commitment must extend beyond ships, tanks, and aircraft to include the human infrastructure of defence.
Canada should benchmark its support for military families against other NATO countries and make the results public. Military families represent a core component of defence policy, and their wellbeing constitutes a matter of national security that demands urgent attention and comprehensive solutions.
