“Horrific”: Massive NATO budget gap alarms Canada’s defence community

[@tarowhittier8583]

Honestly I'm just glad Canadians are talking about this issue, if the Canadian military was talked about more in Canadian society we wouldn't be in this place to begin with.

[@grantlingley1385]

True and really less of a Lib / PC thing, government has done little to nothing for years. Will be interesting to see how this discussion evolves as well.

[@KirkArnold-b4q]

You can talk about it all you want but to Justin trudeau it's not important. I have seen him warned for years , he dosent care

[@authoritariangentleman7570]

You're considered a weirdo and far right for talking military issues in Canada

[@KirkArnold-b4q]

@@authoritariangentleman7570 we looked you up , wow!! You are a freek

[@augustsonseventy42]

The Canadian military has one job: make sure Canadians can be Canadians or hate being so. Just my opinion.

[@clobberella]

I hate to break it to you, but the defence budget gap has existed for decades. This is why we no longer can field any self-propelled artillery -let alone purchase any big-ticket equipment!

[@cartermccool6233]

Ah ah don’t forget about the cool new Sheit we bought for Ukraine that we don’t even have yet

[@ZackNeill]

This government should be ashamed of itself.

[@checkfactschecking]

LOL! You complain like crazy about a tiny carbon tax that you pretty much get all back. There isn't a person gullible enough in Canada that thinks you will agree to $82 billion every year + inflation and praise the person who charged you with it. What a hypocrite.

[@cinmanmoo]

Imagine how much we could spend on our military if the MP's made a pension like the average Canadian, not 38 thousand a year after only 6 years. Mulroney really stuck it to the tax payers!!

[@pccougar895]

Just add $4,100 to everyone's tax bill this year. The money doesn't just appear out of nowhere.

[@checkfactschecking]

@@pccougar895 LOL, exactly. These are the same people who won't pay a tiny tax to help reduce the tons of garbage they each spew into the atmosphere every year that we all have to breath.

[@KirkArnold-b4q]

This gov is a joke

[@Manooshen]

Can’t believe we are ignoring the Arctic.

[@franceyneireland1633]

If we can't defend it, we could loose it.

[@craigquann]

@Manooshen were not ignoring it. But definitely not moving like it's a priority. We do have ships built/being built for artic patrol. Massive icebreakers in design phase and the new submarine program. I think what we really need is more northern bases and a focus on logistics to supply Northern communities and bases. Full mobilization training to move supplies as part of our training.

[@jasonjamesbisson]

I think we arr gonna see something bad happen with all that. Everyone thinks the US is our saviour Trump will change that

[@jeffhedrich3551]

The USA doesn’t recognize it as ours. They claim it’s international waters.

[@lloydkuepfer1599]

I can. Because they never did anything for the last 50 years

[@thegumpfiles778]

Bill Blair could give dictation for 7.5 straight hours and make Not one point you could follow . Life time govt employee.

[@StarLakeFarm]

sad but true. Blair is a "do nothing" minister

[@Grimshire]

This man constantly misses answering the doorbell.

[@dpg2826]

Don't forget, compulsive liar, every time he speaks he is full of shi te.

[@thomasmccart9970]

Ex-Police Chief, what does that say?

[@thomasmccart9970]

​@Cryharder-r1eIt confirms to me what I suspected when in the past all the big city police chiefs supported the firearm registry because then officers responding to calls would know if there were firearms at that address. In reality officers could never trust their lives to that kind of information. A ten year old kid could understand that. The firearm registry cost us hundreds of millions of tax dollars and these guys were our top cops.

[@Deheartless]

You really trust a guys word when he said budgets balances themselves?

[@joeschlepp]

you trust a guys word after he says he admires communism

[@ferrallderrall6588]

Ya like 8 billion and things that go bang ,probly more since that was a couple years back already,trudope blows through cash like its nothing ,fuking no clue trudope fjt

[@MAP1980vs]

whomever voted for this guy should be extra corruption taxed

[@ElizabethBardy-LeBlanc]

In 2019 Vet's got what they were asking for, PENSIONS FOR LIFE.@Cryharder-k2d

[@CashMacGregor]

trudeau has had 8 years to address this and has just not made it a priority which says he doesn't seem to think that what is going on in the world is relevant to canada. i guess trudeau didn't get the message when the RCAF jet he was on broke down and left him stranded in india. talk about 3rd world.

[@GG-cl4oo]

The Governments prior to the current one also have not seen fit to meet the agreed upon 2% GDP military spending. This is not a Trudeau thing, it is all governments since NATOs inception. Until the people of Canada stop believing that the USA has no choice but to protect Canada and the north, we will not see future government commit to spending the money to create a proper Canadian military. What I really don’t get is that Canada has some of the best ship building companies on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and we have the aerospace technology, to design and build what ever Canada needs to fulfill our military criteria, why don’t we do it in house and keep the money and tech at home?

[@derek8564]

@Cryharder-k2d NATO countries are still better to live in than non nato countries.

[@Karl44444]

War is looming up north and is soon knocking 🇨🇦 should get ready ,

[@checkfactschecking]

Sure thing buddy. It's not like he was dealing with a worldwide pandemic which nearly bankrupted our health care system, and caused inflation worldwide, which caused everything from food to housing to skyrocket in all first world countries. Nah, you aren't bright enough to figure all that out so you just do the lazy and point a finger at the only guy who did anything to save lives. just look at the lives lost due to ignorant Cons who cost Canada $4.5 billion closing out border to international trade, and the death of thousands by posting misinformation about Covid everywhere. Nothing to say about those a-holes?

[@pccougar895]

@Cryharder-k2d Neither could U.S. or Russia.

[@scottmccambley764]

No one likes paying for insurance, but we do anyways because it is smart. And when its needed, its appreciated. Defence spending is the ultimate insurance policy for our nation. Get over it and get it done.

[@ElizabethBardy-LeBlanc]

Where will the money come from? They said $81.5 BILLION needed a year. Now spending $41 Billion. Does the Gov't have to raise Taxes to pay for the extra $40 Billion? Or Borrow and increase Canada's Debt?

[@ElizabethBardy-LeBlanc]

Plus the Fed's already pay out $80 Billion a year on Seniors for OAS, GIS and GAINS.

[@KirkArnold-b4q]

@scottmccambley764 this is why vote conservative. Librals are all in the gov to make money for themselves

[@chrismcintosh9907]

Stop paying for stupid things like foreign sex parties, aid to terrorist countries, renting art pieces, consumption sites, gender swap surgeries, mass immigration (at least the ones who bring nothing to the table; if they are productive members of society all the power to them) etc. And stop wasting and handing out money to corrupt liberal companies or gong shows like arrive-scam with zero accountability. Let’s also get investment and large projects back into Canada. Pipelines, LNG export ports, factories. Stop intentionally hindering the economy and revenue increase. This isn’t rocket science. Just wasteful ignorance or worse arrogance. There are many wasteful areas the libs could cut back and save untold billions

[@thomasjefferson6]

We shall see what happens if new President Trump calls Canada onto the carpet for its refusal to live up to its NATO obligations, obligations that Canada committed itself to back in 1949. As of 2024, here are the countries that are BELOW the 2.0% threshold, the minimum that all members of NATO have pledged to allocate to NATO in order to be members and to receive the benefits for being a member: Croatia 1.81%, Portugal 1.55%, Italy 1.49%, Canada 1.37%, Belgium 1.30%, Luxembourg 1.29%, Slovenia 1.29%, and Spain 1.28%. Canada also allocates 43.5% of what it does spend on personnel, much of that on bureaucracy rather than on soldiers themselves. This is the largest percentage of what Canada spends. Only 18.6% of Canada's defence expenditure goes to major equipment and related research and development. Canada spends 3.4% on infrastructure, and 34.5% on operations and maintenance. If Canadians want to have an independent country and to have allies, then they are going to have to insist on more money for national defence and less money on NDP pet projects for national dental care and government funded day care, as Canada is a country with a 1.29 trillion dollar federal national debt (and rising).

[@doreenstokdijk8250]

Bill Blair is the biggest Canadian failure ever. 😂

[@frakismaximus3052]

Whisky Bill is as incompetent as he is dishonest

[@Matts000]

Hey, I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a fan of this liberal government. But let’s be fair here. No government has ever really taken national defence seriously. And the reason for that is because there is to much pressure to allocate money to social programs. Canadians overwhelmingly don’t support increasing our national defence budget (some would actually like to see it cut back ) they are extremely naïve in thinking that we have no threats from the world, and of course there is the number 1 excuse that “the US will defend us”. Until you can convince the general public that national defence should be a priority, nothing will change.

[@joeschlepp]

he's sooo inebriated all the time he'll never be able to crawl out of that bottle.

[@ferrallderrall6588]

​​@@Matts000no bud it would be no.problem to cover the bill if the pm even had one clue to have some kind of budget,we been taxed to the hilt then waste it all and tax some more rinse and repeat,fjt

[@sparks1792]

You guys had a dogshit military before this government lmao

[@bobwoods1302]

Re-build our military!

[@dangrather1280]

How could it alarm anyone. I’ve been wondering for 30 years why we have such a pathetic army.

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

2024 budget has more spending on indigenous peoples than the entire Canadian military budget. Indigenous people make up 5% of the population. So we spend less on all of our security than we do for some past transgressions of ancestors that I have to ask when will these payments stop? My communities across Canada could use support but they get nothing if there are not indigenous communities. If you expect people to serve and promote their children to serve, we have to increase our military spending.

[@winstonskafte5505]

15% when you add in the metis and oh just enough to get the card folks.

[@frakismaximus3052]

Yep, it's a travesty. Trudeau uses a fiction to justify it.

[@jeffhedrich3551]

If you expect 95% of the country to want to serve, you have to stop disproportionate spending on 5%. Isn’t that what you meant to say?

[@ferrallderrall6588]

Seems the money never gets spent weee its needed most and the issues never get healed so then a bunch more mismanagenent happens again the next year

[@sparks1792]

You just feel like crying lmao

[@justin7909]

Sitting on all these natural resources and our military wouldn't even be able to defend them

[@bobwoods1302]

We have friends

[@justin7909]

Need to be able to stand on our own if need be

[@KellyBrownlee]

Are military cant now!

[@KellyBrownlee]

@@bobwoods1302 Why should are friends give their solders lives for us when we're not willing to defend are self's or even put an effort into supporting are military and defend are own lands?

[@bobwoods1302]

@@KellyBrownlee First of all it's our not "are" secondly if you ever read a history book you would know that Canada has only ever went to the aid of friends. The Boer war, WW1, WW2, Korea, Afghanistan. Having said that I agree we need to spend more on our military.

[@jimlogagianes7277]

Lying to the electorate is one thing but lying to our American Allies and neighbour’s might not be wise.

[@crispy-qx5oi]

What are they gonna do. We can call their bluff because they will always defend Canada no matter what

[@GregoryVincent-s6o]

Nuclear powered submarine fleet built in Canada will pay for itself. F-35 parts built in Canada. Join the intercontinental ballistic missile defence system & defend this damn country!! 🤦 It’s about time we should be able to. Modernize

[@KellyBrownlee]

Canada can't afford nuke subs or maintain them even if we had them, and America and Brition will not sell us any because Canada is a security risk!

[@seanhiggins2740]

...and don't forget a nuclear weapons program too!

[@nancetardiff339]

​@seanhiggins2740 Money grows on trees amiright?😂

[@GregoryVincent-s6o]

@ when Russia comes to take everything from you then you’ll have something to cry about 😂 . Your security is in jeopardy . Canada is the second largest country on the planet full of natural resources which paints a target on our back. Without the U.S. China or Russia could take it all at the snap of a finger .. sweet dreams 😴

[@seanhiggins2740]

@@GregoryVincent-s6oRussia's and China's nuclear weapons are insignificant compared to the cosmic powers of Trudeau's male feminism.

[@andrestamour9110]

Take the money out of the Politician pension's to pay for it then they will not have to raise our taxes again.

[@ADobbin1]

cut funding to social programs, art galleries, the cbc, the UN, all the stuff we are giving to the WEF and such. Once you add it all up I'm betting you'll find all the money the military needs to hit 2% this year.

[@Boen_Arrow]

It’s disgusting how little the current government supports our troops and the lack of foresight they have in regards to how important military spending is with the state of our world today

[@KellyBrownlee]

but on the good side JT gets a lot of photo ops. LOL🤣

[@sparks1792]

No Canadian government cares lmao.

[@BTC9403]

Unfortunately the conservatives don’t seem any better other than in rhetoric but that’s just words all empty

[@robertstaples9207]

The world security situation has changed a lot in the past 10 years and the Liberals have done nothing to adjust to the changes. I suspect Trudeau only put this goal in place because he new he would not be in government when the goal needs to be reached. After the money his government wasted and the deficit they have ran up it is going to make it very hard for the next government to do much about it.

[@BTC9403]

@@robertstaples9207 everyone’s gotta run deficits right now to combat inflation, but yes he has mismanaged money. But Pierre also looks more and more like a politician corrupted by foreign interests. Mainly India

[@outdafractured5603]

I am not a warmonger but, we need to pickup the pace on military spending. What NATO asks for is very reasonable compared to what they offer in return.

[@patrickcowan8701]

How to say you're a warmonger without saying you're a warmonger. Thanks.

[@RellHaiser1]

​@@patrickcowan8701 Si vis pacem, para bellum. If you desire peace, prepare for war.

[@bc4420]

Let’s upgrade our military. We need to defend our north. Let’s invest in subs, drones and air defence. It’s time. This isn’t Canada in the 90s anymore. We are vulnerable and look weak on the global stage.

[@jasonjamesbisson]

They waited to long. We are gonna regret it eventually

[@jeffhedrich3551]

You know those won’t be ready for fifteen years right? In the meantime and the last 150 years, the Arctic has not been invaded.

[@jasonjamesbisson]

@jeffhedrich3551 no but times have changed and there is only so many moves that can be worth trying to make. Something will happen up there yet

[@bc4420]

@@jasonjamesbisson @ We have time to prepare. If we start now in the next 5-10 years we will be able to defend ourselves. China is a few years away from taking Taiwan and Russia is busy with Ukraine and Europe. But now is the time. If we do nothing we will regret it as you said.

[@jeffhedrich3551]

@ not likely. The defence department says it is basically a naturally impenetrable barrier. Besides you know we can’t even build a garbage dump up there without endless environmental processes and Inuit permission right?

[@pancakes3ful]

You can pay Canadian soldiers more it really that easy.

[@heresalemonsukonit276]

If you seen what they did all day you wouldn't be saying that

[@WinstonSmithRoom101]

then they can protect our borders, as it stands we are over run so whats the point?

[@SMac86]

You mean we would have to actually equip our troops? How about we build in Canada? Lets start a defense industry here, and see how much the US cares about our %2 then...

[@normplatt7549]

what IS THE INDIGINOUS CONTRIBUTION TO CANADAS DEFENCE?

[@lloydkuepfer1599]

I think JT is off when he says he increased defense by 70%. Not true

[@DJC-it2sw]

JT is definitely cherry picking numbers but the fact is the conservatives have been just as bad when it come to defense spending. PP continues to ignore the topic.

[@KellyBrownlee]

Of course, it's a lie, JT only knows how to lie so he doesn't look so bad.

[@lloydkuepfer1599]

@@DJC-it2sw YES I AGREE

[@ferrallderrall6588]

We were directly involved in syria ,brothers in arms against some bad peaple then trufope cut that short like the ff he is​@@DJC-it2sw

[@meridianline4022]

​@@DJC-it2swhe's not ignoring the topic as opposition he doesn't have the numbers like Trudeau does they won't know how bad it is until they form government and have access....learn how things work before you talk about them

[@kenbernard5267]

Defunding the CBC will cover about 1.7%.

[@ToxicFaith42]

No thanks. We don't want our media turning into the for-profit nightmare the American media turned into.

[@davidgoulding1386]

We need factories here in canada to make our own tanks and artillery rounds at the very least. We need to hit our spending numbera and we need to bring solid canadian factories back. We have a proud military and its time for the government to focus on it Anyone elsw remembwr us spending 38(?)million on slweping bags that didnt actually hold yp to what they are needed to do. Disgusting miss management of funds and no one bejng hwld accountable for that blunder.

[@BergJager1]

As a retired soldier I can confirm that there are important factors that keep soldiers in the game. The feeling of being part of a team. Sacrificing yourself for a greater good, cool adventures, and cool equipment. And taking care of one’s own family. Budget cuts means that soldiers no longer can train, which means they do stupid and meaningless tasks at home in country. And often even those tasks grow far and few between. They will not be getting any meaningful pay increases to keep up with the times. Courses get canceled as broken equipment no longer requires trained soldiers. We are so poorly equipped that other countries just don’t want us at their side as we cannot keep up with them anyway. Embarrassed by the knowledge that other countries that do work with us are doing so out of obligation and pity (sort of like letting your 5 year old help build your new workbench knowing that he or she isn’t really helping, but it’s cute even if you have to slow things down for them in any case). As a retired soldier I know what it is to be ordered to yell, bang, bang, bang in simulated combat with other countries. No wonder people are not staying or even joining the CAF. There is more pride to be had working at A&W, and possibly more pay without any physical risk to oneself.

[@TheHighlander5555]

Our military deserves so much better from our government. It's a shadow of what it was previously.

[@kelstr]

My friend in the CAF told me he gets 60 bullets per year to keep up his training. THAT'S IT. 60 bullets !!!!!

[@dev4statingx90]

LOL I have more ammo in my closet

[@murrayeldred3563]

Why...as a former Canadian citizen....left 50 years ago to work around the World....settled in the UK....does CBC NEWS not allow comments and bravo to your channel for allowing comments. I still have children working in Quebec and Alberta and a relative in New Brunswick....and whilst I have only visited Canada (a place I like very much) 5 x in the last 50 years.....and this is a good episode....but time to really ramp up Defence spending....

[@ToxicFaith42]

Sad times in the UK. Brexit turned out just as bad as expected. So glad I didn't move there. I almost did in 2011.

[@antoxa.310]

Turdo destroyed every aspect of this country, including the military

[@craigquann]

Theses are dangerous times. Time to take off the rose colored glasses. This needs to be a priority. Recruiting needs to be fixed. By selective draft if necessary.

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

Try paying soldiers a living wage, politicians first act of office is giving themselves a pay increase every election for last 50. Try building housing for soldiers. Most we have currently have mold. The equipment or weapons are ancient artillery systems that were designed to be pulled by horses. It's ridiculous.

[@jasonjamesbisson]

Its gonna happen yet. We are sitting ducks

[@jasonjamesbisson]

@Cryharder-k2d well time will tell as this plays out. I believe eventually we will see something occur in that area that we never dealt with before. The stage is slowly being set.

[@AC-zt2ky]

@Cryharder-k2dRussia wants control of the arctic because it could be a next major shipping passage. And we know now that Russia will take what it wants by force

[@jasonjamesbisson]

@Cryharder-k2d check out the Kelly Kraft interview they did this a.m CSIS has been sounding the alarm for over a decade we have been asleep at the wheel for to long . Facts

[@corywelch667]

21% of Canadian households suffer from food insecurity. 80% of Canadians cannot afford to purchase a home. The average renter pays over 40% of their total income to shelter. Homelessness is spiking dramatically. Vets aren't being cared for. Healthcare and Education is abysmal and will soon be privatized. Total cost of living has skyrocketed and NO action has ben taken to help people being priced out of their communities. When will the MAJORITY be heard?

[@bobwoods1302]

The government doesn't buy people houses in Canada Ivan. Nobody is starving here. Worry about yourself comrade

[@corywelch667]

@@bobwoods1302 Actually, until the early-mid 80s, Canada had a public housing program that significantly relieved stress on the market. Homelessness wasn't a problem in Canada until they phased that out. Comrade.

[@bobwoods1302]

@@corywelch667 There is still public housing.

[@corywelch667]

@@bobwoods1302 Not like there used to be. It used to be a federal initiative, now it's provincial and only the NDP really pushes for it. Is that all you got? I expected better, Ivan. Surprised you didn't bring up immigrants. And if you think nobody in Canada is starving, then you're not in Canada. Completely detached, really.

[@KellyBrownlee]

All of that because of JT and nothing has gotten better, if anything things have gotten even worse because of JT relentless spending, now Canada is broke and things are even worse! and JT wants to raise the carbon tax to 605 making things even worse that they are now.

[@Pfagnan]

OMG Trudeau is clueless and an embarrassment on the World stage!

[@DerekDeJong-kp9ll]

Still no supply ships…

[@cherylroy977]

Take the money Trudeau keeps giving to other countries and put the 2% into assuring Canada’s defence.

[@kellycutler621]

900.00 grand..for a holiday in jamaica...hummmm

[@thothfund]

Canada needs to boost heavy industry through increased defense spending. Instead of seeing increased defense spending as a waste, it should be seen as an opportunity to reinvest in industry.

[@duanedrouillard2495]

Correct but that would produce carbon and Justin would rather give our money to countries having a hard time with climate change. He needs to part his sunny ways and take care of Canada first

[@logiczchance101]

obviously. they have been ordered by their overseas boss not to provide any meaningful aid to nato. and they are complying with that order with great vigour.

[@BudzzableRides]

Gee wiz it’s almost like he thinks budgets balance themselves. How can anyone question a man who believes this? LOL. We have a snowboard instructor for a leader for crying out loud. Nothing should surprise taxpayers.

[@christt6809]

Defense Budget is 1% of GDP in Canada. Need 100% more to Reach 2%. How hard it is for our leader to understand it? Trudeau could be blame. But where was the opposition? We, Canadians, have to wake up our politicians. To rebuilt the military, in fact, we will need a lot more than 2% for several years.

[@chrisabc123]

Well can start with ordering functional sleeping bags, helmets, and providing all those serving overseas full day’s meals instead of asking them to pay for their food and equipment themselves.

[@manojchowdhary4208]

Don’t worry Trump will make Trudeau fix this. 😂😂

[@misterfunnybones]

"Defence spending" is a broad topic. Is it conventional weapons? Is it larger deployable personnel? Is it specific expenditures funneled to specific private defence contractors? Is it autonomous loitering munitions? They mentioned a few specifics, but the 2% budget based on future GDP is a target with a broad range of options.

[@jeffhedrich3551]

We could give service members a raise and meet the target. lol

[@misterfunnybones]

@ exactly! We could buy every Canadian a "defence kit."

[@WinstonSmithRoom101]

our borders are over run there is no "defence" spending.

[@normplatt7549]

GIVE some OF the POLITICO funny MONIES to armed FORCES TROOPS STOP THE TOYS!

[@davidfowler8207]

What's wrong with this guy. You're Country Is At Stake..

[@geoffworley5275]

Would be nice if we had a country worth defending, maybe work on that before throwing money at the MIC.

[@WinstonSmithRoom101]

exactly the borders are over run what exactly are you defending?

[@matthewsaunders5893]

I'm curious what country is worth defending, in your mind...

[@QtipsYo]

So I guess instead of sending billions to your friends. It should go to the canadian military. I like it.

[@Davesstrat]

NATO just needs 5 new bases in Northern Canada.Give NATO a half dozen deactivated CFBs and airfields.A new NATO dockyard for NATO ships ,set it up in the old PMQs in Dartmouth.Give NATO all that land for sale by CFB Shearwater.Take a "capital loss" on assets that we give to NATO.25 billion of infrastructure is just as good as 25 billion in defense spending.

[@tw8060]

Canada should let NATO build a Arctic base with equipment stationed from other countries , the ONE US BASE in Alaska have more equipment and planes than Canada's entire Army and Airforce it is no joke. I do not think any of the current bases are up to task because upkeep just hasnt been happening same with equipment that is only at a certain low capacity of working order.

[@QuixoticIgnotism]

There is no point - we throw away most of our spending on useless garbage. Don't increase spending without increasing accountability and procurement.

[@Robert-i6h5e]

Lmao the clowns can’t blame Trump now but he was 💯 right when he called us out in 2018

[@SapperRJMorgan]

I was in the Army in the 90’s/00’s and we were crying about the lack of funds then. The Liberals suck but every government over the last 30 years has underspent.

[@AmberAnderson-i5h]

Where did they find these people? In foundations?

[@Yuri-z2y]

Bill Blair, I have the plastic soldiers for you for Christmas! You will enjoy them, cute grandpa! Lol

[@LB-iu2og]

36 year CAF veteran here. The only reason that Canadians are talking about defence spending is because a US president has brought it up. The Liberals and Conservatives have taken their turns slashing spending on defence and taking care of our veterans because Canadians don’t care about these two things. I have had to do more with less since 1985 and soldiers that are currently in the CAF are carrying on this tradition. I’ve also noticed that the media is interviewing a lot of retired generals on defence spending. When these generals were in the CAF they were quiet and pulled the party line. This has to stop. They need to speak up while they are in the CAF. It’s not like the government is going to fire you.

[@rico_cavalierie]

Can'tada deserves what it gets. No matter what math is used, Can'tada still can't meet the bar no matter how low it is set.

[@eagleone-ff9lz]

For tudo better spend tax payer to bring more muslim refugees or indian than to strengthen military

[@ChefNick666]

Billions have been WASTED by the Liberals on so many programs that were never been successful in the past few years. Canada's sovereignty in the North, defense of our country, and following through on our commitments to our NATO alliance is very important and we can certainly find the funds to properly équipe our Canadian Armed Forces!

[@dev4statingx90]

We're buying diesel engine submarines that be detected from miles away by advanced armies. Why even bother trying at this point lol

[@lewy1]

This has been the way Canada has treated its military for decades, it doesn’t matter which party is in power.

[@stephenmorris8557]

Welcome to Canada !

[@mawhayden]

As a person who has been in the Canadian Military, the Military budget is run by technocrats who have had no experience in the past or presently in ANY military issues…that’s for starters. Next there is a lack of where we re in the world. The over reliance on the US is getting tiring even the Americans are getting tired of us (Canadians) tagging along instead of investment in our military infrastructure. Fortunately or unfortunately The Trump Administration will not put up with behaviour from Canada going forward...

[@LisaBrandys-n8w]

Well ask Trudeaus friends to empty their bank accounts give Canadians money back!!

[@Nabber8888]

Maybe stop handing Ukraine 60 billion dollars ?

[@rayes7331]

It's appalling how much of a joke our defence spending is, we had a great navy before and they virtually eliminated it, absolutely disastrous We need to invest in everything!!

[@avroarchitect1793]

healthcare or a military, pick one.

[@Shanei5]

Global news is campaigning for Harris. What a journalism😂

[@ryansremark6983]

I think Canada shouldn’t be wasting money in foreign countries and invest in their people who are struggling daily

[@DerekDeJong-kp9ll]

We used SAP to track all spending. Easiest ERP to track total costs with.

[@user9b2]

How much are other countries paying?

[@Stikkelsbær]

Defence spending should be increased and the money should be spent in Canada, so it is fed back into Canadian economy through Canadian weapons manufacturers etc. We need to take a page from the Swedes and Fins.

[@jeffhedrich3551]

The USA won’t allow that. Plus the Finns are buying mostly USA equipment. Sweden didn’t get that way by being part of NATO, they did that because they were not part of NATO

[@augustsonseventy42]

People used to use candles to light their Christmas trees. At some point proper use of candles were not handed down.

[@AboutFace-gq1tx]

How about our homeless. What about the cost of massive unbridled Immigration. What about our infrastructure. Opioid Phentinol crisis , ect , The list is long , the stupidity is endless.

[@Farmguy1]

Our Defense budget is $33 Billion annually, Indian Affairs is $32 Billion annually!

[@DerekDeJong-kp9ll]

Still no air defence…

[@aheidstra]

I know soldiers in the armed forces who have not been issued sleeping bags or winter jackets. Where is the money going?

[@joerocket1977]

We don’t need NATO or Trudeau. 90 billion a year is insane for a small country like Canada in peace time. Who are we going to fight? Our economy is absolutely collapsing and that is with a massive budget deficit.

[@Delgwah]

Thank you👍😎

[@tgoodson2]

Oh shut up. Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. You've had 10 years to get this thing in order

[@Benvolio1]

We are only in this mess because the government didn’t increase DNDs budget enough over the years.

[@annkristoff4303]

ONLY 11 out of 32 countries meet the NATO budget.

[@bob-p7x6j]

Everyone has been lax for a long time because for most countries things have been very good up until recently....

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

Not true since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Now most NATO countries have increased spending to 2% GDP

[@jeffhedrich3551]

@@ZoomZoomMX3most NATO countries are chihuahuas with near meaningless gdp

[@mikeym.1461]

Things have changed considerably since the psycho Russians decided to ignore international law. All of Europe is decisively increasing their NATO budgets after sleeping on it for the last 30 years....

[@mikeym.1461]

@Cryharder-k2d No one succeeds in Afghanistan.... poor example .... in continental Europe they will ....

[@Wild0767]

Hope Canada will have a new Prime Minister in 2025 who will protect all Canadians!!

[@TheAmbex]

1960, 4.19%, John Diefenbaker 1970, 2.19%, Lester B. Pearson 1980, 1.76%, Pierre Trudeau 1987, 2.06%, our last time hitting the 2% mark, Brian Mulroney 1990, 1.96%, Brian Mulroney 2000, 1.11%, Jean Chrétien 2010, 1.19%, Stephen Harper 2014, 0.99%, the lowest going all the way back to 1960, Stephen Harper 2020, 1.40%, Justin Trudeau

[@ThomasMullaly-do9lz]

Where are we going to get all this money?

[@nearlynormal-s8i]

it may be time to move away from the warm and fuzzy and get with the program. Today that means an efficient and well supplied military that a member of NATO can be proud of. Overcome your problems.

[@samgabriel2360]

A lot more than this is being thrown away at Ukraine and other countries, so what's the big deal

[@kevinwilson99]

Most of our military equipment is old / worn out and needs to be replaced, and CAF has a real recruitment problem. When was the last time we saw a concerted recruitment effort? I’m not referring to the very occasional / rare KZbin or mainstream media ad, but a real effort. Lots of ads, massive recruitment efforts at secondary and post secondary schools, incentives etc. The troop numbers they refer to, “supposed” to be 75K, but is around 60K, leave every unit with a massive manpower issue, making it very difficult to meet current tasking, let alone being able to react to world events. No real point spending on equipment if there is no one there to use it.

[@whitekuk4679]

So what happens if we say no?

[@robchater9494]

As much as i'd like to lay all of this at Justins feet, Canadians have been watching this decline for decades...Canadians need to step up and take ownership of this, we all know governments can not trusted to do it themselves. If we want to find a solution it must be on Canadians priority list...Until then this is only a dream Canadians need to take more pride in our nation and it's protection, it is one thing to call yourselves a canadian but to be content with a security apparatus that leaves ALL Canadians vulnerable... is just wrong...

[@StettlerBurns]

No surprise to me, I’ve been complaining for years

[@FlexGC]

This is not new news. Libs have known about this for years.

[@SR-lh4rm]

The goal of NATO is not well-defined. The goal is "security" in the abstract. Yes, when you throw a bunch of money at an abstract goal you end up spending and wasting a ton of money.

[@frakismaximus3052]

No, it's actually a pretty basic concept that dovetails with national defence.

[@SR-lh4rm]

@@frakismaximus3052 Except it's not national defence. The goal of NATO is collective defence. Two separate concepts. Collective defence is an open-ended goal, hence ill-defined.

[@seanhiggins2740]

@@SR-lh4rm The goal of NATO is not collective defence. It is for all members to spend 2% of their GDP on NATO approved military contractors. Whether it is effective or not is irrelevant.

[@imafarmer6353]

OR……find a way for world peace…..then nobody would need defence budget, the world could work in harmony……pie in the sky aspiration , probably …….it would take a glorious event or a world changing event to unify the world to one common goal. The world has enough energy potential, growth potential , that everyone COULD live in a utopia type existence . It it greed and hate that drives ppl apart.

[@matthewmartin1789]

Unfortunately governments like China Russia Iran don't want peace and will take advantage of the vulnerable. There is a different between being peaceful and being helpless. Currently we're a bit helpless and USA is the only thing stopping China and Russia from grabbing a few islands in the artic.

[@scott234ca]

This has been a systamic issue for years as of 1987.

[@sommmeguy]

Everyone wants a strong military, but where will the money come from? Borrow more? Cut healthcare? Increase taxes?

[@TheWuggies]

Maybe the 33% increase in the federal public service could be a start. I'm positive we could cut this entire workforce by a full 50% and not notice a single difference, back to the office, back to WORK and cut the fat, bloat, dei, expense accounts, flights, free meals, and pretty much anything that doesn't produce outcomes but cost a fortune.

[@jimlogagianes7277]

We haven’t taken national defence seriously for decades. What did it cost to cancel the F35 in time and dollars? Is it time to look at procurement techniques ?

[@stonehenge313]

its no wonder this government wont be re-elected. its pathetic.

[@shaneofcanada7042]

The idea that Canadas GDP will go from 2.15 Trillion to 4.1 Trillion ($82-B from 2% of GDP) in 8 years is a bit of a stretch. The Canadian military needs more money to live up to its commitments, and there are plenty of places to get it from. Were talking about finding roughly 0.7% our money, I'm pretty sure there are departments that could afford to lose 1/2% here and 1/2% there.

[@tubedude4859]

Trudeaus old man reduced our military to a laughing stock . Now Justin continues to strip Canadians of pride in a force once to be reconned with .

[@Laura-he4ds]

Clean the HOC first !!