This article originally appeared in the Toronto Sun.
By Marcus Kolga, January 27, 2025
During every Canadian NHL game, there’s a ritual where fans rise between periods and acknowledge members of Canada’s Armed Forces. But what began as a heartfelt gesture after 9/11 has devolved into an empty routine.
The slow, almost reluctant rise of audiences today reflects a troubling and growing apathy among Canadians toward our Armed Forces and Canada’s role in the world.
In 2016, 70% of Canadians expressed pride in the Canadian Armed Forces. By 2021, that number had plummeted to 47%, fuelled by chronic underfunding, a failure to modernize, and sensationalist media coverage that magnifies every flaw while ignoring the critical contributions our forces make to global security.
If Canadians hear often enough that their military is plagued by scandal or incompetence, they stop caring — and when the public stops caring, so do the politicians responsible for ensuring our Armed Forces have sufficient resources.
This demoralization aligns with the anti-democratic objectives of authoritarian regimes like Russia and China. Their disinformation and influence campaigns target the morale of our forces and erode public support, and they seem to be succeeding.
Today, Canada leads NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia, a mission that should be a source of immense national pride. Latvia, like its Baltic neighbours, endured decades of brutal Russian Soviet-era occupation and violent repression of freedom. Entire populations were deported, their culture and language nearly erased.
During the Cold War, at a time when the freedom of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine seemed impossible, Canada stood up for them. Despite the urging of U.S. President George H. W. Bush not to do so, in August 1991, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney became the first G7 leader to restore diplomatic relations with the three Baltic nations, cementing their path to freedom from Soviet occupation and colonization.
Canada’s presence in Latvia reinforces that unambiguous message sent three decades ago: Canada will not allow such atrocities to happen again. Our troops are not merely peacekeepers; they stand today on the front lines of freedom, deterring Russian aggression and standing guard for democracy itself.
And yet, this critical mission is overshadowed by sensationalized scandals, underinvestment and a national conversation that dismisses our military’s contributions and diminishes our role in the world. Decades of government neglect have indeed left our forces stretched thin and under-equipped. From procurement failures to funding shortfalls, the lack of political commitment directly impacts recruitment. Fewer young Canadians are inspired to serve when military life is portrayed as thankless, broken and embarrassing and as acting contrary to our national interests.
If we wish to rebuild a capable military, we must first restore public trust and respect. Canada’s Armed Forces represent far more than defence. They traditionally embody our values as a nation. Our military commitments — from Latvia to Ukraine — reflect these values. They reaffirm Canada’s role as a global leader, standing together with our allies, against forces that seek to undermine our collective sovereignty and our democracy.
This extends beyond Europe. Russia and China continue to perpetuate modern forms of colonialism. Moscow’s denial of its historical crimes and its exploitation of African and Asian nations mirror Beijing’s repression in East Turkistan (Xinjiang), Tibet, and Hong Kong.
Canada, having confronted its own colonial legacy, cannot turn a blind eye.
Achieving this requires more than updated equipment and stronger NATO commitments; it demands full public support for the men and women who serve.
We must reject the cynical narratives — both domestic and foreign — that undermine public trust, as well as the morally unscrupulous Canadians who support and amplify them.
Restoring pride in our Armed Forces is not about empty patriotism; it’s about protecting the very foundation of our democracy. Canada’s soldiers safeguard not just our borders but our freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. Their sacrifices demand more than fleeting applause between periods at a hockey game. They deserve tangible, long-term support from both the government and us, the Canadian public.
Canada is one of the wealthiest, most stable democracies in the world. Our economy surpasses that of Russia and our commitment to defending democracy is widely respected among our NATO allies. Yet, instead of amplifying these strengths, we fixate on the magnification of flaws, eroding our collective morale and demoralizing the very forces tasked with protecting us, ultimately paralyzing our ability to defend ourselves and our allies.
We must not shy away from pride in our Armed Forces or in Canada’s contributions to global peace and security. Embracing ambition — investing more in our military and committing to greater leadership on the international stage — is not arrogance. It’s our responsibility as a leading democracy.
The restoration of pride in ourselves, our military and the values we defend is not just a matter of national confidence — it is essential to safeguarding the freedom and democracy that we all enjoy today.
Marcus Kolga is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
