The decision to create the RNCVR was criticized by the Opposition in the House of Commons, with some claiming that it was a pipeline for strengthening the British Royal Navy rather than Canada's service.

However, any effort to create the companies was left to interested individuals and no active recruitment to the RNCVR was performed by the Royal Canadian Navy in the beginning.

The cruiser deployed south off the western coast of North America, responding to reports of German raiders operating along it.

[8] As volunteer numbers grew, an Overseas Division was created in February 1916 to recruit Canadians for service with the Royal Navy.

Reservists were demobilized, and the organization of the RNCVR was allowed to lapse due to cuts to the Royal Canadian Navy's budget.

The reserve would be reworked into a militia model and would train two to three times a year, supplementing the much smaller regular force on the coasts.