Having already overseen a significant increase in the number of generals in Canada’s military, the country’s top soldier says more will likely be added once a review he’s commissioned of the Forces’ command structure is complete.

In 2003, there were 81 generals and flag officers in the Armed Forces, according to the Canadian Press. Nine years later, that number rose to 97 (a 20 per cent increase), said a spokesperson for the chief of defence staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance.

Last month, there were 136 generals and flag officers — a 40 per cent increase from six years previous.

Generals and flag officers are appointed following recommendation by the chief of defence staff to the Defence minister.

Gen. Jonathan Vance was appointed Canada’s top general under Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in July 2015. It was under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he’s been tasked with implementing the Liberals’ modern defence policy — “Strong, Secure, Engaged” — which pushes defence diplomacy as a part of the Canadian military’s international involvement.

It’s Canada’s highest-ranked generals who do this job, usually working with their counterparts in our allied countries, where generals tend to be more numerous.

Canada has about one general or flag officer for every 500 soldiers in its permanent force. In 2015, Australia’s military had a general or flag officer for every 315 soldiers, while the U.K. had one for every 363 soldiers, according to Vance’s staff.

Vance also cautioned that the number of top generals in Canada tends to fluctuate because, of the 136 generals and flag officers, 15 are temporary, while another 15 are of the reserve force. For example, Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, who is deputy commander to the United Nations Command, is among the temporary generals.

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When Eyre has completed his UN posting, he’ll return, “and that position will collapse, so we won’t have that,” Vance said. “We won’t have that job, nor will we have the inflated number that that represents.”

The number of generals and flag officers could also grow if Canada becomes involved in more conflicts.

“We have got to be prepared when the world calls. … I’ve got to be able to give the minister options,” Vance said.

Vance said he’s ordered a study of the potential “repackaging” of Armed Forces branches, which he said might affect personnel in medical, logistics and cyber branches. He expects this assessment to be completed within two years.

“I’m looking at the control and command of the Armed Forces into the future, and studying how to do that,” Vance said.

If the Forces were restructured in any way that called for more generals, Vance said he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their appointment.

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