Compulsory service in a sedentary militia was practiced in Canada as early as 1669 and continued until the late 19th century, when Canada's sedentary Reserve Militia fell into disuse. However, conscription into a full-time military service had only been instituted twice by the government of Canada, during both world wars.
Conscription into any armed service has not been practiced in Canada since the end of the Second World War in 1945.