Canada’s top military commander says the country must prepare for a new era of large-scale warfare, warning that shifting global threats are forcing a rethink of defence priorities and force structure.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said the international security environment has changed significantly, with rising tensions involving countries such as Russia and North Korea and growing strategic competition in the Arctic and other regions.

The warning comes as Canada considers deeper co-operation with allies, including a possible role in a UK-led multinational force focused on northern and transatlantic security.

Carignan indicated the Canadian Armed Forces will need to expand and modernize to meet these challenges, including increasing full-time personnel and strengthening reserve capacity. A key part of that effort involves building a much larger pool of trained civilians who could be mobilized in a crisis.

The military is seeking to recruit up to 300,000 civilians into a “strategic reserve,” a supplementary force designed to support operations during major emergencies or conflicts. The initiative reflects concerns that current force levels are insufficient for sustained or large-scale engagements.

The warning underscores growing concern that Canada’s military is not currently equipped for the scale of conflict now being discussed by allies. Expanding personnel and support capacity is increasingly viewed as necessary if the country is to meet its commitments and respond effectively to emerging threats.