History Browser

Look back at the French-Canadian regiment the Van Doos, their history, exploits, and unique culture.

The 1987 White Paper envisaged a new role for the reserves within the new NATO plan for fighting conflicts in Europe. The regular force and the militia were to be integrated into a total force, with militia members serving as individual augmenters to the regular forces. This role has seen thousands of militia members serve in the Middle East, the Balkans and elsewhere with the regular forces.

The 1995 Dickson commission made a number of recommendations related to Canada's armed forces, including unit rationalization, guaranteed individual training days, equal pension rights with the regular force, and job protection when reservists are on call-outs. Many of the proposed reforms had only had a cosmetic effect without affecting the deepest problem – how do the reserves and regular forces integrate their missions.