Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan is reconsidering her plan to recruit public servants to strengthen Canada’s reserve forces. She acknowledged that public servants are already contributing significantly to national defense efforts. On May 30, 2025, Carignan and Defence Deputy Minister Stefanie Beck signed a document aimed at enhancing both the reserves and the Supplementary Reserve. The Supplementary Reserve consists of inactive or retired Canadian Forces members who are willing to return to duty if needed. Currently, there are 4,384 personnel in this reserve, but in a national emergency, that number could rise to 300,000. The Canadian Forces had initially relied on public servants to volunteer for military service as part of a mobilization strategy. In a nine-page unclassified document, Carignan and Beck stated, "The Supplementary or other Reserve should accommodate skilled and unskilled contributors while still differentiating those with previous CAF service from new members." They emphasized that the plan should prioritize volunteer public servants at the federal and provincial levels, with less restrictive entry criteria regarding age and physical fitness. However, following public backlash after the plan was reported, Carignan expressed doubts about its focus on public servants. In a November 11 interview, she stated, "It is not focused directly to public servants. Our public servants are already contributing extensively to the work we are doing in defence." Carignan did not clarify why she changed her stance, especially since the mobilization plan explicitly prioritized public servants. The document also outlined a significant increase in the number of Canadian Forces reservists, proposing to expand the current reserve force from 23,561 to 100,000. Details on how to manage the potential influx of 400,000 Canadians into both the reserves and the Supplementary Reserve remain unclear. The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces have not provided information on the recruitment costs or timelines for this initiative. Alice Hansen, communications director for Defence Minister David McGuinty, did not respond to inquiries about the minister's involvement in the decision to shift focus away from public servants. The proposed training for new recruits in the Supplementary Reserve includes a one-week course on handling firearms, driving trucks, and flying drones. After initial entry, recruits would be required to complete one week of military training annually, but they would not receive uniforms. Medical coverage would be provided for their military service, although this time would not count toward their public service pensions. While some public support exists for the mobilization initiative, many have ridiculed it. Defence insiders have criticized the planning process, suggesting that the Canadian Forces failed to adequately communicate the initiative to the public. Retired Colonel Brett Boudreau remarked, "It’s another classic study of a failure by defence leaders to anticipate public interest in their activities and planning." Carignan stated that the lines quoted in the Ottawa Citizen articles about the mobilization plan "are not quite correct," but did not elaborate on how the material, taken verbatim from her document, was inaccurate. Beck and Carignan have established a "tiger team" to prepare for the Defence Mobilization Plan. This team will assess necessary changes to government legislation and other factors to facilitate the large-scale recruitment of Canadians into the military. The Department of National Defence confirmed that participation in the expanded reserve force would be voluntary. Initial planning is underway to explore how the Canadian Armed Forces could enhance national resilience, particularly during crises or natural disasters. The mobilization plan requires a collective effort from all Canadians, as outlined in the document. It calls for collaboration with the Privy Council Office and other government departments to engage the public effectively. The tiger team will also consult with international allies, including Finland, which has a conscription-based military system. Finland mandates military service for male citizens aged 18-60, while women can volunteer. As the initiative progresses, the Department of National Defence has not commented on how ongoing recruitment challenges might affect the mobilization plan. The tiger team began its work on June 4, but details on its initial findings remain undisclosed.