The benefits of national service

Opinion

“Build, baby, build” is the new mantra of governments across the country.

From pipelines to hydro lines, premiers have submitted their wish lists to Ottawa. Bigger, better, and most of all, more infrastructure projects are today’s nation-building imperatives. The prime minister is about to open a new Major Projects Office to make it all happen. The major project for building Canada is building more major projects.

It is the 21st century version of Sir John A. Macdonald’s 19th-century “national dream.” Uniting the country through new “ribbons of steel.”

But building Canada is not the same as building Canadians. Being Canadian is much more than a spending tally of shovel-ready construction projects. The most important national project is Canadian citizenship. What is missing from our leaders’ major project list is national service.

National service for young Canadians would be a foundational boost for renewed civic pride and national unity. It would build citizenship responsibility through community engagement. And it would give young people fresh from school a practical skills base to launch their lives and careers. Like a citizenship co-op program for young Canadians.

A poll released last week in Canada by Angus Reid showed over 70 per cent of Canadians supported a form of mandatory national service for under 30s. Support was strongest for civilian rather than military service, such as support for health care, the environment, civil protection or youth services. Importantly, support for the whole idea was strong with young people who would be the ones affected.

About 80 countries have some form of national service. It requires a form of compulsory involvement for a designated period of service time. Traditionally, this has meant military service via conscription or serving in the reserves but has also come to mean community service as an alternative in many countries. Many of Canada’s Western allies like Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Austria require national service.

Defence preparedness is the main driver for many countries’ national service obligations. The Nordic countries all require a term of obligatory military training and then service in the reserves, although only a small number are actually called up.

But not all national service is military in nature. Neutral Switzerland’s national service gives three options, two of which are military in nature but one of which requires a longer duration of service in the areas of social welfare, health care, environmental protection or nature conservation. France has no military conscription but recently brought in Service National Universel for all young people aged 15-17. SNU’s main goal is to “strengthen national cohesion through social diversity.”

Participants begin with a 12-day “cohesive stay” in a different part of France than they currently live in. Afterwards, they get a choice between a short (84 hours) or longer (three months to one year) commitment for a “mission of general interest.” General interest covers everything from participating in a heritage restoration project to organizing a cultural or sporting event.

So Canada has many models from which to choose. Mandatory service with a choice between military, civil defence and community services

Canada has a modest form of national service now, actually, called the Canada Service Corps. But it is entirely voluntary and will benefit only 20,000 young people over three years. There are over five and a half million Canadians aged 16 to 29 today. A much bigger national service initiative is required.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is at a hinge moment in its history. Our economic sovereignty is threatened by the United States. Our international security is threatened by war, conflict and rising global tensions. Our national unity is threatened by political polarization, disinformation and regional economic disparities. And our national cohesion is under threat by domestic tensions imported from external conflicts and past immigration and refugee intakes that did not sufficiently account for our capacity to successfully integrate newcomers to our country.

National service will not automatically fix this. National service would help build a shared Canadian identity necessary for our continued unity and prosperity. It would help bridge regional and civic alienation. It would reinforce common Canadians experiences for diverse communities. It is the best riposte possible to the dubious claim by our previous prime minister that we are the first post-national state with “no core identity, no mainstream.” National service speaks directly to the inherent pressures faced by a multicultural, pluralist society like Canada.

As Canadians, we are proud of the personal liberties guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But rights come with responsibilities. Just as parents and schools strive to instill personal responsibility with our children, national service obligations would emphasize this as they come of age.

National service would mark an important down payment to creating a stronger Canadian democracy around stronger Canadian citizenship. After all, it is never too early to learn about the importance of giving back.

David McLaughlin is a former clerk of the executive council and cabinet secretary in the Manitoba government.