It is seriously time for Canada to begin hiring, training, and equipping Canadian supplementary citizen soldiers. The United States administration under Trump today stated that he would use ‘whatever leverage in order to ensure that Canada will do what it wants’.
That sounds like a direct threat, and should be treated as one.
Canada’s military has proposed the creation of a supplementary reserve force for Canada that would be made up of citizen Canadians, who would then be trained equipped and deployed as a reserve force should Canada require them.
Rather than disarming Canadians by seizing semi-automatic rifles, Canada should be enabling those who owned them to become members of the Canadian Supplementary Reserve force. With almost 200,000 weapons, those Canadians who are already familiar with weapons could form the basis of this new supplementary force, and many probably have experience in the past with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.
Standardizing the weapons, calibre and distribution of ammunition, while offering basic ‘rifleman’ training would provide a ready force, capable of defending Canada and its sovereignty.
The issuance of at least a partial uniform for identification and rank should be all that is required. Training could be offered at armouries across Canada and ‘basic training’ made available for those without previous military experience.
Redistributing Canada’s existing infantry rifle as new C7 and C8 rifles are procured would maximize their utility and expedite the acquisition of arms to reservists.
With almost 68,000 rifles on order, that existing number could be maintained in service.
Developing the capacity to train and equip the supplementary reserve will take time, and a serious commitment by both citizens and the military. The Finnish model requires service mandatorily from males between the age of 18 and 65.
The training is extensive, taking between 80 and 155 days. Officer training and specialist skills go beyond these requirements and require an annual deployment period for additional training and familiarization with newly acquired weapons systems.
The U.S. Is an Existential Threat to Canadian Sovereignty
Canada has to take seriously the threat that the United States poses. Not unlike the Finnish experience of being ‘next door’ to Russia. Both America and Russia harbour hegemonic goals and aims.
Knowing that the United States has designs on Canada’s resources, it mandates that Canada act and Canadians grow up to the realization that the United States is an existential threat to Canada.
Asymmetrical warfare within small unit actions is essentially what Canada’s reservists would be expected to take part in while defending Canada’s sovereignty and interests.
Personally, I am totally in favour of conscription for 19 year olds in Canada. My experience serving in Canada’s reserve force was valuable, as I’m sure Canada’s youth would find the experience of great value in relation to their future careers and expanding the scope of the training and skills.
Canada needs to get on with it.
Time is short.
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