The military is warning that Canada has reached “historic lows” for personnel assigned to United Nations operations with the situation likely not improving anytime soon.
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A lack of funding and not enough military personnel is behind the drop, according to the latest statistics outlined in the Department of National Defence’s results report released Dec. 17.
“Deployed CAF members to UN Peacekeeping operations have been numerically declining since 2005 and have reached historic lows with only 22 CAF members deployed on UN Peacekeeping operations,” DND outlined in its report. “Given existing personnel shortfalls, these force levels have been reduced to meet competing priorities, such as domestic operations and operations in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.”
When he came to power in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised that a Liberal government would “renew Canada’s commitment to peacekeeping operations.”
But instead the numbers have been dropping.
A website run by Royal Military College professor Walter Dorn to track Canada’s UN commitments, noted that as of Aug. 30, 2024, there were 31 personnel assigned to various missions. But those were a mix of civilian police and Canadian Forces staff. The missions included those in the Congo, Cyprus, the Middle East, Kosovo and South Sudan.
The DND results report noted that in 2017 Canada committed to the United Nations a quick reaction force. “Canada’s 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial commitment to contribute a Quick Reaction Force of approximately 200 troops, with corresponding equipment, is increasingly unlikely to be fulfilled,” the department concluded. “While Canada has pledged to re-engage in peacekeeping as part of its proud tradition, it is not currently able to effectively do so without significantly greater personnel and materiel resourcing.”
In 1993, Canada had a significant presence on UN operations, with 3,291 military personnel and 45 civilian police assigned. Those missions included Bosnia, Cambodia, Cyprus and Somalia.
In 2015, the Conservative government of the time had committed 116 individuals to UN operations. The numbers dropped after that, but then in 2019 Canada’s contribution increased to 167, the high mark under the Trudeau government. That was because of a commitment to operations in Mali.
Dorn says he sees claims that there is not enough money or personnel as excuses to avoid UN missions. He says the Canadian Forces leadership and government are risk adverse as UN missions these days tend to be in active conflict zones. It is easier to take part in operations such as naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific and deployments such as in Latvia in eastern Europe, he adds.
“They would rather play at preparation and do deterrence rather than be in areas where there is actual fighting going on,” Dorn said.
He noted that the U.S. government had wanted Canada to take a leadership role in dealing with the deteriorating security situation in Haiti where UN-authorized police and soldiers are trying to control armed gangs. But the military and Liberal government decided such a mission was too risky.
Dorn, however, said Canada has stepped up with a unique contribution that provides a C-130 transport aircraft for limited periods to the UN. That gives the world body flexibility to use the aircraft in various missions in Africa.
But Dorn says the Canadian Forces and government has done little to highlight that contribution.
“I don’t know why they don’t advertise the things they are doing when they have successes,” he said.
“There is something wrong with this attitude. You would think they would want some good news stories coming out.”
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe