A new program to recruit skilled workers from foreign militaries is not unusual, according to experts at the Canadian Forces College. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the plan to help bring experienced doctors, nurses and pilots into the Canadian Armed Forces, which is currently short of thousands of members.
Professor Paul T. Mitchell said hiring foreign recruits can quickly add valuable experience, but security checks are important. Retired lieutenant-general Michel Maisonneuve warned that vetting foreign applicants could take time and may discourage some candidates. Military analyst Ken Hansen, a former Royal Canadian Navy commander, said recruits from allied countries like Sweden, the United States, and Australia would likely adapt more easily than those from countries such as China or North Korea.
Experts say the program could help fill urgent gaps in the military, but some believe it will only have a small effect. Maisonneuve called the move a sign that Canada is struggling to attract enough local recruits, while Hansen said the shortage makes foreign hiring a necessary step.
