Military recruitment fell 35 percent last year, records show. Volunteers were harder to find amid “Canada-wide labour shortages,” said a federal briefing note.

“The Canadian Armed Forces serves Canada by defending our values, interests and sovereignty at home and abroad,” said the note Recruitment And Retention. “However the Canadian Armed Forces is experiencing a shortfall in personnel that has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and Canada-wide labour shortages.”

A total 5,242 volunteers joined the regular forces and primary reserves last year, said the Department of National Defence. It compared to 8,069 the previous year.