Mark Carney Vows to Beat Trudeau’s NATO Defence Spending Deadline
OTTAWA — Liberal leadership contender Mark Carney has pledged to accelerate Canada’s NATO defence spending target, promising to reach the benchmark of 2% of GDP by the end of this decade—two years earlier than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2032 goal. Carney made the commitment during a campaign event in Windsor, Ontario, emphasizing his focus on boosting Canada’s defence capabilities while ensuring funds are spent effectively and domestically.
Carney’s Commitment to Defence and Domestic Investment
“My government would work to reach two per cent of GDP in defence spending by the end of this decade and pull our full weight in NATO,” Carney said. He also underscored his intent to prioritize Canadian companies in defence procurement. “As much as possible, the majority of that increased funding should be spent here in Canada as opposed to the United States,” he added.
Carney’s plan reflects a growing sense of urgency about global threats, aligning with recent calls from military leaders for a more robust Canadian defence strategy. Defence Minister Bill Blair, a supporter of Carney’s leadership bid, echoed this urgency, stating that reaching the NATO spending target in two years is “absolutely achievable.”
Criticism and Challenges
Not everyone is convinced Carney’s plan is realistic. Conservative defence critic James Bezan criticized Carney for previously supporting the Trudeau government’s defence policies, which he claims left the Canadian Armed Forces “underfunded and underequipped.” Bezan also questioned where Carney would find the necessary funding for this ambitious goal.
The promise to hit the NATO spending target comes in a context where Canada has struggled to meet its defence commitments. Despite Ottawa’s formal pledge in 2023 to reach 2% of GDP in defence spending, the government has yet to come close to that figure.
In 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau promised to meet the NATO target by 2032, following criticism from U.S. Republican lawmakers. The pledge included plans to procure up to 12 submarines to push Canada past the 2% spending threshold, but no new budget allocations have been made for that project.
Rival Leadership Candidate Freeland’s Defence Plans
Carney’s leadership rival, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, has not yet released a detailed defence policy but hinted that her plan is forthcoming. Campaign spokeswoman Katherine Cuplinskas said, “The world is increasingly volatile and dangerous. We must quickly meet our international commitments and defend our sovereignty.”
Freeland’s economic platform includes a focus on building “made-in-Canada” defence supply chains to reduce reliance on U.S. companies. She advocates for prioritizing Canadian firms like Telesat over Starlink, D2L over Google, and Bombardier over Boeing in government procurement.
Economic Pledges and Broader Policy Agendas
Both Carney and Freeland are presenting comprehensive economic agendas. Carney has promised a middle-class tax cut and a repeal of the Liberal government’s controversial capital gains inclusion rate hike. Meanwhile, Freeland aims to break down interprovincial trade barriers, diversify Canada’s trade relationships, and reduce regulatory red tape for energy projects.
The Bigger Picture: Global Defence Context
Carney’s pledge comes as global defence spending increases in response to rising geopolitical tensions. NATO allies have largely met or exceeded the 2% GDP benchmark, and U.S. President Donald Trump recently proposed a new spending target of 5% of GDP for NATO members.
General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, recently warned about the evolving nature of global threats. “The situation has changed, and we need to transform to meet a different type of threat than we were used to in the last five years,” she said. Carignan emphasized the importance of adapting to these emerging challenges by investing in new capabilities and technologies.
Mark Carney’s pledge to fast-track Canada’s NATO defence spending marks a significant shift in the Liberal leadership race, setting the stage for a heated debate on defence policy and fiscal priorities. As the global security environment grows increasingly complex, Canada’s defence strategy is likely to remain a central issue in the coming months.
Source : The Canadian Press
