Canada’s Navy Is Slowly Rotting Away

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Key Points and Summary: The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) faces critical challenges, including aging ships, recruitment and retention issues, outdated infrastructure, and inefficient procurement. These issues threaten Canada’s sovereignty, NATO commitments, and Arctic security.

-The Halifax-class frigates and Victoria-class submarines are nearing obsolescence, while replacement programs like the Canadian Surface Combatant face delays and cost overruns. Arctic vulnerabilities are acute as rivals like Russia and China expand their presence.

-Urgent reforms are needed, including modernizing recruitment efforts, streamlining procurement, and prioritizing Arctic capabilities.

-Revitalizing the RCN will require political will and sustained investment to restore its role in protecting Canada’s maritime interests.

The Royal Canadian Navy Needs Urgent Repair

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is at a tipping point. Persistent shortfalls in personnel, aging equipment, mismanaged procurement, and crumbling infrastructure have left the Navy struggling to meet the demands of 21st-century maritime security. These challenges are not abstract; they compromise Canada’s ability to defend its waters, safeguard its sovereignty in the Arctic, and contribute credibly to NATO operations. Without bold reforms and sustained investment, the RCN risks becoming a token force in an increasingly contested maritime domain.

As the son of a Royal Navy veteran, I have long understood the pride and sense of duty that come with naval service. Yet, today, the Canadian Navy faces crises that would have been unthinkable in my father’s time. Chronic personnel shortfalls have left some ships unable to deploy, forcing others to operate understaffed. Naval service has always required sacrifice, but the Navy’s current conditions—aging ships, long deployments, and limited family support—are driving sailors out faster than they can be replaced.

Many sailors cite burnout, inadequate housing near bases, and a lack of meaningful career opportunities as reasons for leaving. Housing challenges at bases like Halifax and Esquimalt further complicate retention. Sailors stationed at Halifax report skyrocketing rents, forcing many to live hours away from base. In Esquimalt, outdated infrastructure compounds the problem, leaving service members to contend with poor living conditions on top of demanding jobs.

Recruitment fares no better. Younger Canadians increasingly view the military as outdated and irrelevant. Meanwhile, the Navy has struggled to modernize its pitch, failing to align with the aspirations of today’s workforce. Unlike the U.S. or Australia, which have reframed military service as a pathway to high-tech careers, Canada’s recruitment efforts lack coherence and resonance. A compelling national narrative about the Navy’s vital role in protecting Canadian interests could begin to close this gap, but such a vision is sorely absent.

Equipment deficiencies compound the RCN’s personnel challenges. The Halifax-class frigates, while upgraded, are decades old and nearing the end of their operational lives. Replacement is years away, with the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program mired in delays and cost overruns. Initial estimates pegged the program at $26 billion; current projections exceed $80 billion, raising doubts about its feasibility. Meanwhile, the Navy’s four Victoria-class submarines—critical for Arctic sovereignty and North Atlantic security—are approaching obsolescence.

These deficiencies leave Canada struggling to meet its NATO commitments. In joint exercises, Canadian frigates have lagged behind allies equipped with cutting-edge technology like Aegis combat systems. The absence of advanced air-defense capabilities, modern anti-submarine systems, and robust Arctic patrol vessels is glaring. While NATO allies such as the U.K. and Poland have invested heavily in modernizing their fleets, Canada’s delays highlight its complacency.

The Arctic represents a particularly glaring vulnerability. As geopolitical competition in the region intensifies, Canada remains unprepared to defend its interests. The RCN’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS), while a step forward, are too few and too lightly armed to address the ambitions of competitors like Russia and China. Russia has built a formidable fleet of icebreakers and militarized its Arctic presence, while China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state,” signaling intentions to exploit the region’s resources. Yet Canada’s Arctic capabilities remain modest at best, leaving its sovereignty increasingly vulnerable.

Underlying these challenges is a dysfunctional procurement system. Decades of bureaucratic delays and ballooning costs have left the RCN with a fleet ill-suited for modern threats. The CSC program, intended to replace the Halifax frigates, exemplifies these failures. While allies have streamlined acquisition processes and embraced off-the-shelf solutions, Canada’s approach has been plagued by indecision and inefficiency. The result is a fleet that risks becoming obsolete before its replacement arrives.

Infrastructure shortfalls further undermine the Navy’s readiness. CFB Halifax and CFB Esquimalt, the Navy’s two principal bases, suffer from outdated facilities that can no longer meet the demands of a modern fleet. Dry dock capacity is limited, slowing maintenance and repairs, while base housing is woefully inadequate to support sailors and their families. These deficiencies not only affect operational readiness but also erode morale, exacerbating recruitment and retention challenges.

The Navy’s training programs also require urgent attention. Modern naval warfare increasingly relies on advanced technologies such as cyber capabilities, autonomous systems, and electronic warfare. Yet the RCN’s training remains rooted in conventional paradigms, leaving sailors ill-prepared for the complexities of contemporary maritime operations. Joint exercises frequently expose these gaps, as Canadian crews struggle to integrate with allies operating advanced systems.

Strategically, the RCN suffers from a lack of focus. Spread thin across multiple missions—from NATO deployments in the North Atlantic to counter-piracy patrols off Africa—the Navy struggles to prioritize. A more concentrated approach, focusing on the Arctic and North Atlantic, would better align with Canada’s core security interests. The Arctic, in particular, demands immediate attention as climate change accelerates and rival powers expand their presence in the region.

Fixing the RCN will require more than incremental change; it demands a complete overhaul. Recruitment and retention must become top priorities, with competitive pay, improved housing, and family support programs as immediate steps. Recruitment campaigns must be modernized to emphasize the Navy’s critical role in defending Canada and its high-tech career opportunities.

Procurement reform is equally urgent. Canada must streamline its processes, adopt off-the-shelf solutions where appropriate, and improve oversight to prevent delays and cost overruns. Partnering with allies on joint procurement initiatives could help deliver advanced capabilities more efficiently. Investments in Arctic-capable platforms, submarines, and advanced technologies like drones and cyber systems are essential to closing operational gaps.

Above all, addressing the Navy’s challenges will require sustained political will. The Trudeau government has shown little appetite for serious reform, favoring symbolic gestures over substantive action. A future Conservative government under Pierre Poilievre could bring the focus and commitment necessary to revitalize the Navy, but success will depend on prioritizing defense as a core policy area.

President Donald Trump’s meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week covered a host of topics: the need for swift passage of USMCA, solutions to the opioid crisis affecting both nations, defending human rights in the Western Hemisphere, and more

The stakes could not be higher. A diminished Navy not only jeopardizes Canada’s sovereignty but also erodes its credibility with allies. NATO relies on Canada to contribute to collective security, yet the RCN’s current state leaves it punching below its weight. As competition intensifies in the Arctic and North Atlantic, Canada cannot afford to fall further behind.

The Royal Canadian Navy’s proud history is worth defending. From its vital role in the Battle of the Atlantic to its peacekeeping missions around the globe, the Navy has long been a cornerstone of Canada’s security. Restoring its strength and relevance will not be easy, but it is essential. Canada must act now to ensure the RCN can meet the challenges of the 21st century and safeguard the nation’s future at sea.

About the Author: Andrew Latham 

Andrew Latham is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a professor of international relations and political theory at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN.