QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
Women in the Armed Forces
April 22, 2026
Government leader, despite seemingly positive recruitment figures announced by the Canadian Armed Forces this week, one serious challenge continues to worsen regarding participation of women in the active forces. While targeted recruitment campaigns and adjustments to pay and benefits have been introduced, the commander responsible for recruitment has warned that the forces remain far from the 25% target for women and that, at the current pace, that target will never be achieved.
Serving members and potential recruits continue to raise serious concerns about the work-based culture, including persistent sexual harassment, systemic barriers and a lack of meaningful structural reform.
Why has your government failed to translate repeated commitments into real progress to ensure the Canadian Armed Forces meets its obligations to women who serve or wish to serve?
We are committed to implementing the report that was tabled concerning the Canadian Armed Forces.
As far as recruitment is concerned, it is at a 30-year high and on an upward trajectory, even if there is more to do.
As far as the recruitment of women is concerned, women have been contributing — and I’m sure Senator Patterson will agree with me — to the important work conducted by our Armed Forces. The Canadian Armed Forces set a target of 25% representation of women overall, effective following the Deschamps report in 2015. Women represent 17% of current recruitment but just 4.4% in the combat arms.
There is still much work that remains, but the government is committed to doing it.
Senator Moreau, the issue is not only recruitment but retention. Last year alone, 1,070 women left the Canadian Armed Forces, the highest attrition rate since 2021.
While overall recruitment numbers may show growth, wouldn’t you agree that continued under-representation of women in those figures risks further entrenching the very workplace culture that is driving them out of the forces? How can Canadians have confidence that current policies are addressing the root causes of this attrition?
Exactly.
I think the figures I pointed out earlier are quite promising. We have unprecedented recruitment levels.
As far as women are concerned, we know that we are improving. We are not at the target yet, but we are working on it. We are working both on recruitment and retention. It’s a very strong commitment.
We have unprecedented investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, and this —
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
