The CAF is "infantry-centred". That means focusing on man-power and equipping the man.
Ukraine is demonstrating that the world has moved on. With automation and drones and withdrawing men from the field everyone is now a gunner.
I think that is an unfortunate fiction that many seem to have acquired. Personnel still need to seize and hold ground -- that has not changed since the time man first picked up a rock.
Gunners man the equipment.
1st question
Given the current situation what equipment do I need?
Again I think you are simplifying the equation - instead of looking at what the situations look like outside of Ukraine.
1) Small Wars
2) Medium Wars
3) Global Non Nuclear Conflict
One needs to look at Ukraine sort of like the Korean War -- we (the West) failed to act early enough to provide forces to stop the situation from escalating - but it is a regional conflict with global repercussions.
That does mean that there still will not be small dirty wars like the 60's and 70's, and quite frankly I suspect that we will see more of these as our opponents realize that method is a lot more efficient to impede our progress than a larger one that will also militarily and economically degrade theirs. But forces also need to be ready to deter and destroy hostile incursions large or small into friendly territory.
2nd question
Who is available to operate the equipment?
Every man women and child who wants to remain speaking their choice of language and exercising democratic freedoms that are taken for granted.
It is much better to have a Conventional Force that is well equipped for a LSCO. Currently on the land battle side there is no better option than Combined Arms formations for that -- sure some tools have been added and/or refined - but that has not changed remarkably since WW2.
Fires are needed, and LARGE amount of them -- predominantly Tube Artillery - but also rockets and missiles.
Ranges for some things have increased - but at the soldier in the trench aspect - the majority of combat is still inside 300m.
More and more uncrewed systems will be added, but there are still personnel needed on the ground - in the air, and both on and under the sea.