EDMONTON - With the Harper government ending the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan in 2011, the Canadian Forces will no longer be requiring as many recruiters, says the federal defence minister.

Increased online availability to recruitment information – including social networks such as Facebook and Twitter – has decreased the number of recruiters needed to hit the pavement.

“We have seen Canadians from across the country sign up in record numbers,” said Peter MacKay. “This has been a banner year for recruiting and we have exceeded our recruiting numbers already.”

MacKay insists jobs will not be lost, but there will be a reshuffling in the recruiting department.

According to Maj.-Gen. Walter Semianiw, chief of military personnel, many recruiters will be shifted to North Bay, Ont., to support online recruiting.

“The buck stops with me,” said Semianiw. “I will be drawing back the number of recruiters, not recruiting offices across the country.”

Semianiw also said the demand for military personnel is not as high as it was last year and is happy to have met demands already this year.

“This is a success story,” said Semianiw.

“I don’t want to leave anyone with the impression that we are no longer recruiting. There are still lots of jobs and lots of exciting careers in the Canadian Forces,” said MacKay.

The Navy is one branch that still requires certain technical personnel. The Canadian Forces website is offering information on fast-tracking to a career in the navy.

candice.ward@sunmedia.ca