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Reserve plan's uniform alone costs $1,850 a soldier, and DND has no timeline

Uniforms and weapons for each new reservist are priced, but DND cannot say when the plan will reach government.

· 2 min read · HOC Newsroom
Reserve plan's uniform alone costs $1,850 a soldier, and DND has no timeline
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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DND says it cannot yet say when a formal plan to grow the reserves from 23,561 to 100,000 will go to government. Spokesperson Suzanne Lalande told reporters that details on the timing "have not yet been finalized."

In May 2026, Gen. Jennie Carignan said options would be ready within about a month. A June presentation to government did not happen.

a report from December 2025 said recruitment would proceed at a "slow trickle," limited by inventory, warehousing and contract constraints.

Federal documents reported by the Ottawa Citizen say DND will need more money to hire public servants and military personnel to process 300,000 new people. That report is behind a paywall, and its figures have not been verified.

Defence Minister David McGuinty told reporters and Mail in December that the plan is not his top priority. Carignan has called it "basically planning to plan."

What we're still asking

What did Gen. Carignan's office say about the June presentation that did not happen?

What has the government decided about the plan, beyond McGuinty's comment?

How much will the federal government pay to recruit and process 300,000 new people?

We'll update this story as answers emerge.