Canada's military is considering lifting a longstanding citizenship requirement as a way to boost its numbers. DND spokesman Maj. Alexandre Munoz said the existing Skilled Military Foreign Applicant program is open to any foreign applicant with a specialized skill set that would reduce training costs or fill particular needs — a trained pilot or a doctor, to cite two examples. Only two foreign nationals were accepted into the Forces last fiscal year. In June 2014, the Conservatives established a new program that allowed foreign nationals who served with the Forces to apply for fast-tracked citizenship. According to figures provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 98 applicants out of 109 have been approved to date.

Source: CBC News May 25, 2018 08:00 UTC