The Canadian Army is preparing for a sweeping reorganization as the Department of National Defence (DND) finalizes its mobilization plans. Senior commanders have stated that the current force structure is not adequately prepared for today's increasingly dangerous world, prompting proposals to expand reserves and potentially generate hundreds of thousands of additional personnel in times of crisis.
Speaking at a land forces conference at the University of Calgary, Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright emphasized that the army's existing four-division administrative structure is being replaced. The new system aims to improve the army's ability to defend Canadian territory, deploy overseas, and mobilize a large number of volunteers if needed. The army will be reorganized into three divisions, one of which will be specifically dedicated to the defense of Canada, with a focus on the Arctic. This "Defence of Canada Division" will be heavily reliant on reserves. The Canadian Rangers will also operate under this division.
This transformation is accompanied by a major increase in defence spending commitments from the federal government. In June 2025, Canada agreed with its NATO allies to a new defence investment pledge targeting five per cent of GDP by 2035. A significant portion of this investment will be dedicated to core military capabilities, including personnel, equipment modernization, and defence industry development. The federal government's Budget 2025 proposes $81.8 billion over five years to rebuild and modernize the Canadian Armed Forces, including more than $9 billion in the upcoming fiscal year alone.
The mobilization plan includes increasing the primary reserve force to 100,000 members and creating a supplemental reserve of up to 300,000. The Canadian Armed Forces currently has approximately 30,000 reservists, with just over 20,000 in the army. The restructuring shifts operational leadership to the divisional level, enabling Canadian Army Headquarters to strategically focus on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The transition began in 2026, guided by the Canadian Army Modernization Order and Master Implementation Directive.
