Some Humber students dismissed a recent Globe and Mail report that the Canadian military modelled a hypothetical U.S. invasion of Canada. Others were left deeply uneasy.
However, since the report’s release, relations between the two countries have grown even more strained, with the U.S. administration threatening tariffs of up to 100 per cent if Canada were to pursue a trade deal with China, and President Donald Trump belittling Prime Minister Mark Carney by calling him a governor.
Reaction ranged from nonchalant to downright anxious when asked whether they are concerned about a possible U.S. invasion and whether the Canadian military should be preparing for one.
Arthur Au, a second-year Sports Management student at Humber, said he is not overly worried.
“I think Donald Trump is bluffing,” he said.
Au said if the threats were serious, Canada would already be “the 51st state.” Still, he believes contingency planning makes sense.
“It’s always good to have a backup plan because you never know what Donald Trump is thinking,” he said. “He’s so unpredictable.”
Charles Obasi, an Early Childhood Education student, also said he is not concerned.
Obasi said preparedness is important, but not specifically because of the U.S.
“Generally, I think the military should always be prepared for uncertainty,” he said. “Not really because of the U.S., but for anything that could come up.”
The Globe and Mail reported the military has also run models involving potential attacks from Russia and China, illuminating an extensive approach to national defence.
Merve Demirel, a second-year accounting student, said Canada is already facing economic strain from tariffs and believes the federal government would prioritize diplomacy.
“The authority power in Canada will do anything to avoid putting people or the military into any kind of conflict or war,” she said.
Actor Jeff Kasse told Humber Et Cetera he supports the military’s decision to model different scenarios.
“I think it’s always a good idea,” he said. “That’s the job of the military, to be prepared. I also like that we’re boosting our military commitments to NATO.”
The Globe detailed tactics included in the modelling, such as unconventional warfare involving small groups using ambushes, sabotage, drones and hit-and-run attacks.
Kassel speculated that publicly disclosing those tactics could itself be strategic.
“I’d like to believe they’re playing some kind of mind game,” he said. “Maybe giving away tactics is an illusion, and there’s something else up their sleeve.”
Kassel said he is not personally worried despite the uncertainty.
“I don’t know why I’m not,” he said. “It’s just more comfortable not to be.”
Duncan Fremlin, a septuagenarian musician and realtor, said he feels the opposite.
“I have a knot in my stomach pretty much all day, every day, over this,” he said.
“In my years, this is the only issue that’s really mattered to me politically,” Fremlin said. “Vietnam didn’t matter. Afghanistan didn’t matter. This does.”
Fremlin questioned whether Canadians would be willing to make personal sacrifices.
“Who’s willing to die for this?” he asked. “Are 20-year-olds willing to sign up? The kids in coffee shops on their phones, do they even know what’s going on?”
The Globe and Mail reported that conscription has been ruled out for now, though officials said the level of sacrifice expected of Canadians remains a central issue. Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan has announced plans to build a reserve force of more than 400,000 volunteers.
Jason Wan, a corporal in the Army Reserve, spoke in an unofficial capacity and said no new directives have been communicated to him.
“Nothing was passed down to me,” he said. “That’s probably because it’s just modelling and hopefully remains hypothetical.”
Wan said reserve training has not changed.
“Our training is still very conventional warfare,” he said, adding that developing such models is “the prudent thing to do” to assess risk.
A Syrian refugee, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, said the report was unsettling.
“We came from the Syrian war to be in a safe country,” he said. “Not to be in a war again. We want peace here because we already have a very bad experience with war.”
