Though Canada has no tradition of conscription (but the times we used it, the negatives were primarily political), there are still plenty around (mostly old farts like myself, but a few who are still serving) who served alongside NATO allies whose forces were conscripted. Others may have differing opinions, but I don't recall any experience where I thought that the terms of their enlistment made them any less proficient than one from an all volunteer military. Oh yes, I do remember one incident when I questioned the professional capacity of allied soldiers sailors - that was in a US Navy (all volunteer) LPD in 1979; not only did it seem that they didn't know the simplest skills, but obvious drug use made them unfit for duty.
During the waning days of the Cold War, I had the opportunity to work with German, French, Dutch, British, and American forces among others. The first three were conscript armies. Though most of my interactions were with officers and SNCOs (mostly professional, career pers), I did observe junior soldiers (i.e., conscripts). They may have not wanted to be there (though a lot probably did - in some conscript militaries the only way to join is by conscription - they select the professional NCOs and officers from the best of the bunch), but invariably they knew their jobs and did them proficiently. And in those European militaries, that's where their Reserves came from. They did their obligatory full-time military service and then had to go into the Reserves.
