The solution, as much as I had to say it, is for Canada to be systematically targeted by terrorists.  

The military needs to have a raison d'etre...a mission to focus on, or prepare for.  Otherwise, instead of focusing externally, they focus inwardly (circle the wagons and shoot inward).  That how politics, optics, gamesmanship, career climbing, harassment, one-upsmanship etc. becomes the substitute agenda for preparing for war.  We have a disproportionately high number of generals and HQ staff, busy playing the game, while lacking adequate equipment and combat staff.

Canadians don't like war and don't want to pay for preparing for one.  We can get away with it as long as we aren't targets.  But once we are a target, and we inevitably will, then we will complain about why our military wasn't ready.  There's nothing like a punch in the nose to re-establish priorities fast!