A new Angus Reid Institute poll indicates broad public backing for the idea of compulsory national service for Canadians under 30, provided the program focuses on civilian roles rather than the military. Roughly seven in ten of the 1,619 adults surveyed between 20 and 23 June said they would endorse a one-year term in areas such as disaster response, public health, environmental protection or youth tutoring. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. By contrast, opinion on mandatory military conscription is evenly split, with 43% in favour and 44% opposed. When forced to choose a single model, 59% selected civilian service, while 19% opted for a military route and 13% rejected both options. Support for conscription skews sharply by gender and age: 39% of men over 60 back compulsory enlistment compared with just 2% of women in the same cohort, and net support among men aged 18-29 is negative. The findings come amid a recruitment shortfall in the Canadian Armed Forces and follow Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to raise military pay as part of efforts to attract personnel. Several European countries, including Germany, France and Norway, have introduced similar civilian-first service models in recent years, offering potential templates should Ottawa decide to pursue the policy.