a day ago
John Ivison: Carney's new defence plan takes seriously the darker world we're now living in
Article content
Justin Trudeau went to Washington for last year's NATO summit and unveiled what he called a 'credible, verifiable path' to spending two per cent of Canada's GDP on defence … by 2032.
Article content
The lack of urgency and ambition was reflected in the then prime minister's belief that two per cent is a 'nominal target' that makes for easy headlines but doesn't make Canadians more safe.
Article content
Article content
Article content
His disdain for military spending was apparent in a Washington Post story from 2023, when he reportedly told the Americans that Canada would never hit two per cent.
Article content
Article content
If credibility is a leader's currency, Trudeau left the U.S. capital bankrupt in the eyes of many of Canada's allies. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, said Canada was riding on America's coattails and called it 'shameful.'
Article content
Mark Carney, who is heading for this year's NATO summit in The Hague later this month, clearly did not want a repeat of the Washington debacle, especially as NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte is proposing a new target of 3.5 per cent of economic output on military spending and another 1.5 per cent on 'defence-related expenditure.'
Article content
On Monday, Carney announced that Canada will hit the two per cent target this fiscal year, five years ahead of the schedule he set during the general election.
Article content
Article content
Canada will spend an additional $9.3 billion this year in a defence package that is primarily focused on improving operational readiness.
Article content
Article content
'Canadian leadership will be defined not just by the strength of our values but also by the value of our strength,' Carney said, using another JFK-style antimetabole ('Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.').
Article content
Last year, Trudeau expressed frustration that his government got no credit for doubling defence spending over his decade in power. 'We have stepped up massively,' he said.
Article content
Carney acknowledged the increase in spending over the past 10 years, but also pointed out Canada's defence deficiencies: aging infrastructure and equipment; just one submarine being seaworthy at any given time; and, only half the marine fleet and land vehicles being operational, leaving the military more reliant on the U.S. than ever.
