Latest news with #JennieCarignan
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Pay hike for military members ‘long overdue,' says expert
Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre, and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan, right, walk on the tarmac of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) 8 Wing Trenton in Trenton Ont., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — The federal government's decision to boost entry-level pay for Canadian Armed Forces members is being praised by expert observers as long overdue. On Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government will hike entry-level pay for Canadian Armed Forces privates by 20 per cent for the regular force and 13 per cent for reservists. The new pay hikes will be retroactive to April 1 this year. Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, said the pay increases were a long time in coming, especially at the lower level. He said that if the government is going to be spending a lot more money on defence, boosting pay — particularly at the entry level — is 'a good way to do it.' Given the Canadian Armed Forces' struggles with recruitment and recent reports indicating the military has seen a surge in hateful conduct and racism in the ranks, Hampson said it's wise to 'up the ante' on salaries to encourage more people to sign up. Hampson said boosting salaries alone won't get the government to the NATO target 'in the context of an economy that is obviously beginning to slow down.' He cited new data shared by Statistics Canada Friday that said Canada shed 41,000 jobs last month. Carney also said that colonels and those in higher positions will receive an eight per cent raise and lieutenant-colonels and those below that rank will receive a 13 per cent raise. The pay hikes are part of a plan to boost recruitment and operational readiness. 'All members of the Canadian Armed Forces will receive a pay raise,' Carney said Friday. 'These increases, in pay and incentives, will help us to revitalize and transform recruitment and retention, to bolster force readiness and to ensure that members in uniform have the confidence and certainty that they need.' Federal bureaucrats told journalists in a technical briefing that the new compensation package is expected to cost around $2 billion annually. It's part of a planned $9.3 billion budget boost this year to get to NATO's defence spending benchmark of two per cent of GDP. The government also said it's creating new military allowances and enhancing existing ones to help it retain personnel and drive up recruitment in a competitive job market. Those allowances include $50,000 in bonuses for people entering and working in what the government calls 'stressed occupations' — critical jobs in sectors that are seeing too many vacancies. The government says staffing levels in 53 of 116 critical occupations, which include vehicle and maritime technicians, are now below 75 per cent. David Perry, president and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the government has done 'a bunch of smart things' on recruitment. He said it was wise to scale the pay increase because an across-the-board hike would 'probably not really have been a smart use of additional funds.' Defence Minister David McGuinty pitched a 20 per cent pay raise earlier this summer. The measures Carney announced Friday only increase pay for one tranche of members based on rank. Perry said it's also a good idea to woo people into understaffed parts of the military with targeted incentives. 'I think that makes sense,' he said, adding that he thinks the pay hikes will make a 'significant difference' in making entry level positions more attractive. With files from Kyle Duggan This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025. Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Chief of defence staff says there is 'no room' in armed forces for extremism
Speaking in Trenton, Ont., Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan said it's hard to know why the reported number of hateful conduct and racism incidents in the military almost doubled in 2024, but she said anyone trying to hide such behaviour will be found.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Carney announces 20% increase in military starting pay
Published Aug 08, 2025 • 1 minute read Prime Minister Mark Carney walks alongside Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan, and Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty, as they attend a tour of the Fort York Armoury in Toronto on June 9, 2025 in Toronto. Photo by Cole Burston / Getty Images TRENTON, ONT. — Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government will boost entry-level pay for Canadian Armed Forces privates by 20 per cent for the regular force and 13 per cent for reservists. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Other military members will also receive pay raises, with smaller increases for higher ranks — part of a plan to boost recruitment and operational readiness. The federal government says the new compensation package is expected to cost around $2 billion annually and is part of a planned $9.3 billion budget boost this year to get to NATO's defence spending benchmark target of two per cent of GDP. The government says it's creating new military allowances and enhancing existing ones to help it retain personnel and drive up recruitment in a competitive job market. Those allowances include $50,000 in bonuses for people entering and working in what the government calls 'stressed occupations' — critical jobs in sectors that are seeing too many vacancies. The government says staffing levels in 53 of 116 critical occupations, which include vehicle and maritime technicians, are now below 75 per cent. Toronto Blue Jays Tennis Editorials Ontario MLB
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Liberals spending $2B to boost military pay and benefits this year
Social Sharing The Liberal government announced its long-promised pay increase for members of the Canadian military on Friday, unveiling a graduated series of salary top-ups and incentives that will help the lowest-ranking soldiers, sailors and aircrew the most. Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered the news during a media availability at the country's largest military airbase in Trenton, Ont., fulfilling a leadership and campaign promise. The pay and allowance increase will cost $2 billion per year and the pay bumps are retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year in April. This spending is part of the additional $9 billion for defence that Carney announced earlier this year to meet Canada's NATO commitment. Senior defence officials, speaking on background at a technical briefing prior to the prime minister's announcement, said the last comprehensive overhaul of the pay and benefits system took place a generation ago in 1998. Several weeks ago, Defence Minister David McGuinty had suggested the pay increase would be 20 per cent across the board. Carney had also suggested the same, raising a great deal of expectation in the ranks. WATCH | Military commander on staffing shortfall: Canada short 13,000 troops, but U.S. military ties are 'solid,' top soldier says 6 months ago The Canadian Armed Forces is still short some 13,000 troops, but top soldier Gen. Jennie Carignan says the military is working to modernize the recruitment process to boost those numbers. Carignan also said despite recent tensions, Canada-U.S. military ties are 'solid.' The way the new system unrolls, the lowest ranks of the regular force — private, ordinary sailors and aviators — will get a 20 per cent boost (if they serve reserves the increase will be 13 per cent). Non-commissioned members, junior officers up to the rank of naval commander or lieutenant-colonel, will receive a 13 per cent pay hike. For officers of the rank of colonel and above, the increase will be eight per cent. To recruit and hold on to people, there will be a bonus of $10,000 to complete basic training, an additional $20,000 when training is completed and another $20,000 once they have completed their first term of service. Higher deployment bonuses The Department of National Defence is also increasing a series of posting and hardship allowances, as well as creating new ones. For example, members of the military are paid a bonus when on deployment overseas or at sea. Given the frequency troops have been asked to carry out domestic operations, the department is now introducing an allowance for deployments at home and in the Arctic. Troops forced to live away from their families will get a bigger stipend as part of the changes. As well, military members who are asked to move frequently will get a higher allowance. The department is also delivering a targeted benefit to encourage and retain members who conduct training. The military has struggled to recruit, train and retain members. Defence officials on Friday acknowledged that they are short 12,722 personnel — both regular and reserve force. An internal report assessing the military effort to retain troops, obtained by CBC News, said 76 per cent of Canadian Armed Forces occupations were in critical shortfall. The report, entitled Evaluation of CAF Retention, was dated April 2025, but relied in some cases on data from 2024. Defence officials on Friday provided a lower number in terms of the overall critical shortfall, suggesting only 40 per cent of the occupations within the military are staffed at below 75 per cent. They acknowledged, however, certain jobs are under a lot of stress.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jets Sign Defenceman Isaak Phillips to Two-Year Contract
First woman to lead Canada's air force exhilarated, but honest about challenges ahead Lt-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet was sworn in as the first woman in history to take command of the Royal Canadian Air Force. She says she is exhilarated and optimistic and honoured to take on the role while being "grounded in reality' about the challenges ahead. She took the reins from Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny at a change-of-command ceremony in Ottawa presided over by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan. (July 10, 2025) 1:50 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
