Canadian Military Trying to Recruit More Immigrants

The Canadian Forces (CF) are looking for ways to recruit more visible minorities

The Canadian Forces are facing a challenge in recruiting enough minorities from mostly immigrant groups, according to a story in politics.ca.

Author Colin Horgan notes that among Asian and Arab-Canadians, the interest in careers in the military is low:

When Ipsos Reid asked non-Chinese Asian- and Arab-Canadians what line of work they might be interested in pursuing or would recommend to a younger person, no more than one per cent of those polled said they’d look for a job in the military.

Further, when asked which career they’d be least interested in pursuing, Ipsos Reid found “the military tops the list.” Thirty-one per cent of Asian- and Arab-Canadian youth (and 25 per cent of those polled from the community) told the polling firm that a career in the military would be of least interest to them, “followed distantly by other fields.”

Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) commissioned the Ipsos Reid survey that returned the findings as part of its effort to understand minority attitudes toward the Armed Forces.

The Ispsos Reid report on the survey states that the DND is seeking better recruitment strategies for increasing the representation of this demographic in the armed forces in order to “comply with Employment Equity (EE) Act requirements and ensure operational effectiveness”.

In 2010, the Armed Forces set a target of visible minorities making up 12 percent of its personnel in 2013, but nearly three years later, it is only 5 percent.

The Canadian Armed Forces also struggles to recruit Canadian Aboriginals, which contrasts with the experience of the US military, where Native Americans have the highest per capita enlistment rates of any ethnicity in the country.

15 comments

  • It is because of the Canadian citizenship requirement in order to join the Canadian military. Why not recruit newly landed permanent residents who are unemployed and reward them with citizenship after one and a half-year of accumulated good service in the military instead of the usual three years? I think the Canadian Armed Forces would be more successful in recruiting visible minorities. Permanent residents who have already established themselves in their careers and became citizens would be very reluctant in joining the military.

    You have just have to think out of the box, man!

    • Why bother with citizenship or landed immigrant requirements at all? Why not just hire mercenaries and be done with it?

      The Canadian Military should be by and for Canadian citizens only.

      • Emmott with all respect, I really want to join the Canadian military because I love to serve and be in the army I am an immigrant from outside of Canada. I came as landed immigrant , I volunteer and go to school I will have my bachelor in less than a year. I applied for my citizenship 3 months ago and I have to wait 2-3 years tell me if this reasonable? If you say yes, I challenge you with this question. Whether there is a difference between a Canadian who born in Canada, but is living elsewhere other than Canada cus he/she doesn’t like Canada plus there is not attach other than a piece of document, or someone who is commit to this country work hard and gives a dam about this country plus paying taxes?

      • I agree with you E the government should start hiring newly landed immigrants in the military because most of this people really wanted to serve the country and since most companies here in Canada limits the hiring of landed immigrants. Most of the companies here in Canada doesn’t give opportunities to these new immigrants. The better option would be to give this landed immigrant rights to join the millitary to solve the recruitment shortage second the government then gives this jobless immigrants experience so they can have much better experience and opportunities. Problem solved.

  • “Life-sustaining drug denied by Veterans Affairs Canada, Blue Cross saved my life”

    Imagine the sensation of not being able to get enough air, as your chest tightens and you feel as though you are suffocating. I was on duty with the Canadian Forces (CF) in 2009 when I received the H1N1 shot (AREPANRIX by GlaxoSmithKline) and had a severe adverse reaction resulting in PERMANENT life threatening neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory symptoms: shortness of breath, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, irregular heart rhythms, and extreme fatigue, to name just a few. Forced to leave the CF in 2011 citing medical the above symptoms and later being advised I was disabled upon release, I applied for assistance from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). I provided all the required medical information including specialists reports from neurologists and other physicians but was denied. While fighting VAC on numerous occasions, my MS physicians advised me the shortness of breath I was experiencing was becoming to severe for them to treat and immediately recommended I see a physician who specializes in respiratory issues. On 1 November 2012 I was diagnosed with dyspnea or shortness of breath and was prescribed a number of medications. I contacted the CF in November of 2012 who reviewed my past and current medical information and agreed I had a severe adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccine which also aggravated my MS. After receiving the letter from the CF doctor, VAC immediately approved the rehabilitation and disability applications. In December 2012 I was told by VAC personnel that all medication and treatment costs related to the adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccine and MS would now be covered by them. On 14 January 2013 I met with the VAC nurse who complete an assessment which included listing all of my medications. On Valentines Day, I went to my pharmacy to obtain one of my prescriptions, a life-sustaining drug which prevents severe shortness of breath. The pharmacist advised that VAC would not approve the medication. I asked the pharmacists to call VAC while I was there, as I was certain an error had been made, and was told “VAC will not authorize this medication” because a Special Authorization Unit had not approved its use for my case. Now panicking knowing I had only a few days left before I ran out of my previous prescription and may have life threatening attack, I called my case manager who’s voice mail said he was out of the office at the time. I then immediately called the office of the Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs and explained the situation to her executive assistant who assured me “she would do everything possible to assist me” and that her office and herself “had the power” to initiate a resolution to the issue quickly. I was then contacted my case manager, and after explaining the situation he advised me “you will have to wait 7 days until our Special Authorization Unit approves the medication”. I told him I would run out of the medication before this and he said there was nothing he could do. I asked why it had to be approved when the prescription was already on file at the pharmacy, a copy of the letter from the respiratory physician had been sent to VAC, and VAC’s nurse was already aware I was prescribed the medication a month ago. Again, the case manager told me there was nothing he could do, so I reiterated that this was a life-sustaining medication and with out it, I could die. Without any concern in his voice or sympathy for my situation he stated again, I would have to wait to see if VAC would authorize the medication. I then contacted Blue Cross who acts of VACs behalf to pay for Veterans medications. Once she heard my situation she immediately, without hesitation, authorized a two week emergency prescription. This lady saved my life. I then was contacted by the acting Area manager for VAC, Roy Macdougall, and before I had an opportunity to tell him I had obtained an emergency supply, he told me there was no way he could approve the medication even though I could die from a severe attack before when my medication ran out. I asked him why he had my case manager call me, just to tell me that there was nothing he could do to help me and also explain the case managers complete lack of concern or sympathy for my situation which Mr. Macdougall did not respond to. I told him I wanted a new case manager who was proactive like my Alberta Home Care Nurse and Home Care aids, who who were truly interested in helping me and he refused. At this point I was now able to tell him I had obtained an emergency supply of medication from Blue Cross and asked why my case manager or himself could not do this, to which no response was provided. In calling the Deputy Ministers office to provide an update I discussed my situation with the VAC telephone operator who told me VAC can provide an emergency supply of medication. I now have a few more weeks to live because of Blue Cross.

  • In fact chances are not provided otherwise why they are doing jobs of security guards and dish washers.

  • i was there today at there head quarter in Ontario, and i was sad to realize that they won’t take landed immigrants which to me it sucks, personally i don’t even need them to accelerate citizenship for me because sooner or later i will get the citizenship but i just wanna serve in the forces! so tell me after they showed me the door today you think i will come back after 4-5years and i will want to re-apply are you kidding me, a normal person that just landed should be taken because after 4-5years they would probably have been established in another trade and taking on a new career in a new country and i don’t think i would leave that career again and then go and start over in the military it just doesn’t make sense personally i think they should ask the USA for advices! period ***Arrgghhh Angry cause i wasn’t taking**** 🙂 lol its alright they will get over it!

  • hi im realy like to joy the army forces to learn more about the suviver life,an I marry with a Canadian woman,hm hm I frnm Haiti

  • hi I wanna know more about Canadian army

  • Joining the army for citizenship sounds like a great idea to me. I would consider this option fore sure. I am living in Austria currently and I am afraid that things soon will get very bad for gays in Europe. There’s so much russian propaganda going around. And when you read comments on those sites you get a shock cause so many people buy this shit. I can’t stand it anymore. And as soon as information wars started the brown assholes who are all great Putin fans now started to crawl out of their holes. The scariest part is talking with those NewWorldOrder guys. I acted like I have same ideology to get info. Omfg those guys live in another world. What I got out of the guy was that he doesn’t think it’s right to lynchmob gays and black people. But he wants the Russian society “cleaned” or separated from gays – and HE was one of the nice moderate guys. Too bad he was too stupid to see where this will lead us or he didn’t care and tried to be as political correct as possible – I am not sure. But what I am sure about is on first internal crash in Russia there will be signs for gays so you can see who is gay and who not – of course all to protect the poor Russian conservatives – otherwise it could happen they use same glasses for drinking and that is not fair of course. On next crash there will be ghettos or worse. And I think you can imagine what happens when Russia cannot feed its army I think we called it “Endlösung” in Austria. I don’t know if I overreact but to me it’s quite clear what separation means in the long run. Am i seeing that wrong in your opinion? I can still remember history at school. Sounds like exactly the same stories with different actors to me. It really breaks my heart to see that. I am more an active guy and don’t like sitting still while waiting for the henchmen. I want to do something for the things I believe in and I cannot do this in Austria. Furthermore I don’t think it will be safe for long in Austria. I heard gays are allowed to serve in Canada’s army? I am 29, fit and served in Austrian army. Is there any possibility to realize my plans?

  • Hi I am a new landed immigrant its my dream to join the army since I have my own knowledge, in my country I graduated in a Bachelor and the same time as a reserve cadet in the army, my father is an army too in our country served his unit the Anti – Terrorist Group during his time, I want to follow my father’s foot steps too, do I have the eyes of the favor to join the forces?

  • I am eager to join the Canadian Forces to serve, be disciplined and for commitment. However, I have to wait for 3 years more to get my citizenship and then I can apply and join the CF. I am a professional immigrant from Asia moved here in Canada over 2 years now….. I don’t know if I will still have that enthusiasm after 5 longs years of waiting. Like what Micheal said, who knows I might become contented already and find satisfaction of my current job. Do they think I gonna still consider joining the forces and start all over again? May be not… I am not getting any younger though I’m still in my 20’s.

    I agree and respect with E’s position that ” CF should be by and for Canadian citizens only”. But, let us not be afraid of lawful Canadian Permanent residents joining the CF. I don’t understand what’s the difference between a Canadian permanent resident who became a Canadian citizen whose applying to join the CF, and a Canadian permanent resident who will get her/his citizenship anyway and wants to apply to join the CF?

    Only on special and very rare cases that Canadian Permanent residents who have unique and exceptional skills are allowed to join the CF. The primary requirement to be eligible to join is being a Canadian citizen.

  • i’m not canadian citizen, can i enlist in canadian army?
    can the canadian army sposor me to become a canadian citizen? Marco

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