A coalition of prominent Canadians is calling on the federal government to back a voluntary National Youth Service programme that would include basic military training for participants aged 18 to 25. The proposal, submitted by Engage Canada to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance in May, seeks $18.75 million over 24 months to develop and launch the initiative.
Programme Details and Goals
Under the proposal, young people would complete military training before serving in areas such as emergency preparedness, climate resilience, and community service. Engage Canada chair Michael Burns explained that the programme aims to tackle two major challenges: helping youth transition into the workforce and strengthening Canada's capacity to meet urgent national needs.
“I think Canada is facing two significant challenges at the same time,” Burns said in an interview with National Post. “First, young people are entering adulthood without a clear pathway for employment. A lot of them are lacking skills, a sense of purpose, resiliency, and a sense of belonging. The second is that the country has some urgent national needs, including emergency preparedness, climate resiliency, community service, support for seniors, defence, and security issues. A modern national service program for youth could help address both those things.”
Broad Support from Leaders
The proposal has attracted backing from business, military, Indigenous, academic, and community leaders. Notable supporters include former Quebec premier Jean Charest, former British Columbia premier Christy Clark, Paralympian Rick Hansen, and Chief Wilton Littlechild. Engage Canada argues that the initiative comes at a time when Canada is “debating sovereignty, defence readiness, labour shortages, emergency preparedness, and how to better prepare the next generation for civic leadership.”
Supporters emphasize that Canada must invest in human infrastructure alongside physical infrastructure to build a stronger country. Burns noted that the programme would offer a competitive application process and compensation for participants, though a fair wage has yet to be determined.
Public Opinion and Funding Request
Public polling indicates broad support for elements of the proposal. A 2025 Angus Reid Institute survey found that Canadians overwhelmingly favour mandatory national service—defined as one year of service for those under 30—across several fields. Specifically, 74 per cent supported public health support service, 73 per cent favoured environmental support service, 72 per cent backed youth service support, and 70 per cent were in favour of civil protection.
Engage Canada is requesting $18.75 million over two years in Budget 2026 to fund the programme. The organization believes the investment would provide young Canadians with a meaningful paid opportunity to serve their country while addressing critical national challenges.
