Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says he will not reduce the size of the military

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has ruled out cutting the size of the Canadian military, despite the country's bleak economic and fiscal picture.

The Liberals will concentrate on meeting existing approved levels of 68,000 full-time and 27,000 part-time soldiers, with an eye towards eventually expanding Canada's military ranks, Sajjan said Thursday.

"We are not looking at reducing our personnel," he said. "In fact, the conversations I'm having right now (are) about where do we need to increase the personnel."

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A recent federal report from last year's budget shows military reserves are running at roughly 20,000 paid members about 19 per cent short of full strength.

The numbers are only slightly better for the regular forces, with roughly 66,000 full-time members in uniform.

Sajjansays recruiting has slowed over the last few years and he wants to see measures stepped up so the country always has an agile, optimal force.

Opinions differ on staffing

National Defence is the largest single discretionary item in the federal budget. Previous governments, Liberal and Conservative alike, have often used military cuts as a way to balance the books.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have both indicated of late that the Liberal promise to balance the budget over four years has morphed into returning to black ink over the long-term.

When the Conservatives were still in power, they were being urged to cut the size of the regular force by respected voices, including former defence chief and retired general Rick Hillier, who said the number of bodies could be trimmed in order to preserve sophisticated capabilities.

Sajjan said the new government's planned defence review to be carried out this year will look at the appropriate level of staffing.

He suggested that the exercise will not be aimed at cutting, but rather whether there is an appropriate balance between the army, navy, air force and special forces something known as "troops to task."

But in a nod to Hillier's remarks, he said the review will be wide-ranging.

"We have to focus on capabilities; that perfect mix of personnel, training and equipment," Sajjan said. "We want the Canadian Armed Forces to be flexible, appropriately resourced and able to respond quickly to the challenges of the future."

Review coming year end

The minister told the annual Conference of Defence Associations Institute meeting that the review will be completed by the end of the year, but the parameters including public consultation have not yet been set.

Defence analysts say that is an aggressive timetable, one that the Liberals will have a hard time meeting.

Some at the conference questioned how the government could proceed with a review when it has yet to articulate an overall national security strategy.