Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan has been named Canada’s next chief of the defence staff, making her the first woman to hold the Canadian Armed Forces’ top position.
Lt.-Gen.
Carignan will replace General Wayne Eyre, who is
retiring this summer after 40 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and serving as chief of the defence staff (CDS) since 2021, the Prime Minister’s Office
announced July 3.
Lt.-Gen. Carignan will be promoted to the rank of general and will officially assume her duties after a change-of-command July 18 ceremony.
“Over the course of her career, her exceptional leadership qualities, commitment to excellence, and dedication to service have been a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. “I am confident that, as Canada’s new Chief of the Defence Staff, she will help Canada be stronger, more secure, and ready to tackle global security challenges.”
Mr. Trudeau was asked during a July 3 press conference why the announcement of the new CDS was not made earlier, given Gen. Eyre’s request that his successor be promptly identified to facilitate an orderly handover.
Mr. Trudeau said selecting the new CDS is “extraordinarily important” in light of “complicated geopolitics and increased threats” Canada is facing. He highlighted the recent defence policy update and funding allocated to the military as part of his government’s efforts to strengthen Canada’s armed forces.
Previous Roles
Lt.-Gen. Carignan’s military career spans more than 35 years, during which time she commanded two Combat Engineer Regiments and the 2nd Canadian Division, leading over 10,000 soldiers and directing crisis operations during
flood relief efforts in Quebec. She was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and served in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Syria.
Lt.-Gen. Carignan led the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Mission Iraq from 2019 to 2020. It was a
non-combat advisory mission that assisted Iraq to strengthen its armed forces and security institutions to combat terrorism and prevent the return of the terrorist group ISIS.
Since her promotion to her current rank in 2021, Lt.-Gen. Carignan has served as the Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC), leading efforts to change the culture in the CAF. The position was created after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against senior CAF leaders.
As the new defence chief, Lt.-Gen. Carignan is expected to address a number of challenges, including the ongoing effort to rebuild the number of military personnel. The CAF continues to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 era, during which it saw a net loss of
6,458 troops.
Defence Minister Bill Blair
described the personnel situation in the CAF as a “death spiral” last March, noting a shortage of nearly 16,000 troops.
Other challenges, as outlined in the government’s recent defence strategy update “
Our North, Strong and Free,“ include efforts by ”autocracies and disruptive states,” particularly China and Russia, to violate international law and disrupt the international order.
Canada’s allies have
urged Ottawa to increase military spending amid these threats. The House of Commons national defence committee
called on the government last month to “honour” its commitment to NATO and meet the 2 percent GDP spending target.
NATO
estimates Canada spent 1.31 percent of GDP on defence in 2023 and expects 1.37 percent in 2024.
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
