Politics · Canada · 2 hrs ago
Audit finds ammunition overstock for training but gaps in combat supplies
A federal audit found the Canadian Armed Forces buys more ammunition than it uses for regular training and international missions.
The audit says the military is overestimating these needs, in part because of shortages of usable equipment and personnel.
At the same time, the military’s strategic stockpile of ammunition for emergencies and combat still has critical gaps.
The Department of National Defence has begun replenishing that stockpile, but the audit says the shortages remain.
Canada has cited limited available and stored ammunition as a reason it is not meeting the readiness level required of NATO members.
The audit’s findings come as the federal government is spending billions of dollars on national defence.
A federal audit found that the Canadian Armed Forces overestimated ammunition needs for training and international missions.
The audit said the military used only half of its ammunition purchases, according to the National Post headline.
Critical gaps remain in the strategic stockpile of ammunition needed for emergencies and combat operations.
The report attributed some of the problem to unusable equipment and a shortfall of uniformed personnel.
- Who
- The federal auditor general and the Canadian Armed Forces.
- What
- An audit found ammunition overstock for regular use alongside gaps in combat supplies.
- When
- October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- The military overestimated needs for training and international missions; the report cited unusable equipment and a shortfall of uniformed personnel.
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- Regular ammunition purchases
- The military used only half, according to the National Post headline
- Ammunition needs
- The audit said the military vastly overestimated needs for training and international missions
- Strategic stockpile
- Critical gaps remain in ammunition for emergencies and combat operations
- Groups covered
- Five Canadian Armed Forces groups account for 87 per cent of regular ammunition