Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

Permanent residents can apply to join Armed Forces

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Dec, 2022 03:48 PM
  • Permanent residents can apply to join Armed Forces

OTTAWA - Permanent residents can now apply to join the Canadian Armed Forces, regardless of whether they have been trained by a foreign military.

It's the latest effort by Canada's military to boost recruitment numbers, which are lagging well behind the target of adding 5,900 new members by March.

Officials have blamed a series of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and reputational issues stemming from a number of high-profile sexual misconduct cases for the current shortfall of nearly 8,000 soldiers, sailors and aviators.

Until now, permanent residents in Canada could sign up only if they were skilled professionals who were trained by foreign militaries, but the federal government is now broadening the pool of applicants.

The Department of National Defence says joining the military can help permanent residents gain citizenship, in part because their applications are given priority by immigration officials.

On October, chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre ordered an immediate halt to all non-essential activities in favour of boosting military recruitment and retention.

The Armed Forces has also been pushing for greater diversity in its ranks, with targeted recruiting of under-represented groups and efforts to create a more inclusive workplace by doing things like easing dress rules.

MORE National ARTICLES

Horgan says B.C. is addressing ambulance shortage

Horgan says B.C. is addressing ambulance shortage
Horgan's comments come after an infant in Barriere, B.C., reportedly died waiting for an ambulance, prompting Mayor Ward Stamer to call for flexibility around which first responders are allowed to take patients to hospital.

Horgan says B.C. is addressing ambulance shortage

Man arrested after 3 women assaulted near Vancouver Public Library

Man arrested after 3 women assaulted near Vancouver Public Library
“The woman who was grabbed by the leg left the area before the police arrived, and investigators would like to speak with her,” says Cst Jason Doucette. “There could also be other people who were assaulted in the area who have not yet come forward. Please make a report if you’ve been a victim of crime.”

Man arrested after 3 women assaulted near Vancouver Public Library

3 dead in a semi-truck collision near Golden, Hwy 1 re-open after 37 hours

3 dead in a semi-truck collision near Golden, Hwy 1 re-open after 37 hours
The deceased have been identified as as 25-year-old Tanner Liefting, 30-year-old Brandon Richard Johnson, and 34-year-old Jagsir Singh Gill. Johnson and Liefting were in the same vehicle and were both from Chilliwack, while Gill was from Calgary.

3 dead in a semi-truck collision near Golden, Hwy 1 re-open after 37 hours

Charges laid in Surrey shooting

Charges laid in Surrey shooting
After an extensive three-month investigation, IHIT investigators identified Bradley Minchin as a suspect in the homicide of Mr. Brown. A second degree murder charge has been laid against Minchin in relation to the homicide of Mr. Brown. 

Charges laid in Surrey shooting

Coquihalla crash leaves one dead, one injured

Coquihalla crash leaves one dead, one injured
The driver of the second transport truck, a man from Winnipeg, was trapped and died as a result of the collision. The co-driver in the second transport truck, also a man from Winnipeg, extricated himself from the cab but not before sustaining serious, life-threatening injuries.

Coquihalla crash leaves one dead, one injured

Higher COVID-19 death rates in racialized people: Statistics Canada

Higher COVID-19 death rates in racialized people: Statistics Canada
South-Asians and Chinese people also had higher mortality rates than non-racialized people. The study also found a person’s socioeconomic situation played a role in COVID-19 deaths. People in low income, overcrowded housing and apartments had higher odds of dying from COVID-19.

Higher COVID-19 death rates in racialized people: Statistics Canada