Canada Prepares for Unlikely Threats: A New Era of Self-Defense

Canada's top military officer, General Jennie Carignan, is spearheading a plan to establish a 400,000-strong civilian-defence force. This move comes as Canada reassesses its national security in light of changing global dynamics, particularly with regards to its relationship with the United States. While an invasion by the U.S. is deemed unlikely, Canada is preparing for the possibility of military action, as well as cyber-attacks and natural disasters. The Department of National Defence (DND) has been discussing the creation of a civil-defence capability since Donald Trump's comments on using 'economic force' to convince Canadians to join the U.S. The DND has gamed out various scenarios, including a surge of migrants from the U.S. and potential attacks on Canada's infrastructure by Russia or China. Canada's relationship with the U.S. has changed irreversibly, prompting the need for Canada to become a more autonomous country. General Carignan emphasizes that the plan to establish a civilian-defence force should please the U.S., as it aligns with Trump's demand for allies to take on more of their own defence. Canada has been studying Finland's extensive civil defence system, which includes underground bunkers and training programs for civilians. General Carignan notes that Canada's vast territory and sparse population make it difficult to defend without American help. To address this, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to spend C$82bn over the next five years to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. The new civilian-defence force could help with emergencies such as floods and forest fires, freeing up the army to focus on defending the homeland. Canadians are beginning to wake up to the new reality, with many expressing a desire to serve in the civilian-defence force. As General Carignan notes, 'We're going to need people from all walks of life to help us prepare for the worst-case scenarios.'