Canada now ‘the outlier’ in NATO on defence spending: U.S. ambassador
Global News
U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen says Canada has become an outlier in NATO on defence spending, but Ottawa is rebuilding the nation's reputation as a reliable partner.
The United States’ ambassador to Canada, David Cohen, says Canada is becoming “the outlier” in NATO following a bipartisan letter from 23 American senators calling on Ottawa to meet the two per cent of GDP defence spending target.
“At the end of 2024, the way projections are looking, Canada will be the only country in NATO that is not spending at least two per cent of its GDP on defence and does not have a plan to get there,” Cohen said in an interview with The West Block host Mercedes Stephenson.
“Canada has moved within NATO from being a bit of an outlier to being the outlier in the entire alliance.”
In Canada’s recent defence policy update, Defence Minister Bill Blair outlined plans for nearly $8 billion in spending for the Canadian Armed Forces over the next five years. However, this would only bring Canada’s defence spending to 1.76 per cent of GDP.
“We know that Canada needs to invest in other capabilities that are not yet included in this year’s budget but are inevitably part of the investments that we’re going to have to make,” Blair said Thursday following the release of the letter.
“It’s important those investments are made well, it’s important that we do the research to find out what exactly are the requirements of our armed forces.”
On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the need to do more to ensure Canada’s Arctic, “NATO’s western and northern flank,” is protected. He called recent announcements on fighter jets and NORAD modernization “well received” by the Americans.
Blair pointed to exploring new purchases like submarines and air defence systems, both strategic priorities linked to improving continental defence as polar ice melts and Canada’s northern coast faces pressure from Russian and Chinese vessels.
It's been proposed if the score remains even after overtime, it would be decided by alternating plays from the opposition's three-yard line until one scores and the other doesn't.
François Legault made the announcement at the national assembly of Quebec on Wednesday as October’s provincial election approaches.
Crombie announced she would resign back in September after a weak show of support for the leader at the Ontario Liberal convention on the back of a third-place election finish.
The O'Neills are at the centre of a Charter of Rights challenge, now before the B.C. Supreme Court, that seeks to end the practice of so-called "forced transfers."
The former Manwin Hotel, which has been vacant for about a year, is the scene of a major fire, though crews say the cause is not yet known.
A major issue this week will be China's heavy tariffs on pork, canola and seafood, which were imposed after Ottawa ordered tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.
Despite data saying otherwise, Kelowna, B.C. business owners say break and enters, thefts and property crime are through the roof.
Kelowna is flooded with empty condo and rental units, with the city's vacancy rate now the highest in all of Canada at more than six per cent.
Producers in Saskatchewan say they are feeling optimistic ahead of Premier Scott Moe joining Prime Minister Mark Carney on his trip to China this week.
The Daily Bread Food Bank is alleging a misuse of funds at Feed Scarborough and cutting the agency from its network at the end of January.
Life expectancy at birth in Canada increased for the second consecutive year in 2024, with women living longer on average than men, Statistics Canada said.
SiRT is investigating a shooting involving members of the RCMP that resulted in the death of a man from Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia on Tuesday morning.
Trump made the comments as he toured a Ford Motor Co. factory in Dearborn, Michigan, ahead of a speech on the economy he was scheduled to deliver in Detroit.