As the Canadian Armed Forces seek to grow their number, one of the foremost recruitment challenges will be to ensure personnel are trained efficiently for critical roles in the military. Timely, high-quality training is essential, particularly since unreasonable delays stand to undermine the best recruitment and retention efforts.

Polytechnics are able to provide practical and relevant training capacity across Canada. They offer facilities, instructors, applied learning environments, employer-connected programs, student supports and experience working with adult learners. Activated appropriately, this capacity can help the CAF expand training throughput, reduce wait times, support members and strengthen the broader defence workforce.

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations include:

• Create clear partnership pathways
• Use polytechnic capacity to reduce training bottlenecks
• Activate existing talent pipeline solutions
• Build a national network of Defence Skills Centres of Excellence