Canada’s new military investment urgency will rival WWII, minister vows
Global News
The federal government will take "immediate and decisive action" to rebuild Canada's military, Defence Minister David McGuinty told an audience of military contractors in Ottawa.
The federal government will take “immediate and decisive action” to rebuild Canada’s military, Defence Minister David McGuinty told an audience of military contractors at a trade show in Ottawa Wednesday morning.
He described the government’s sense of urgency by citing the speed at which Canada built up its navy at the start of the Second World War. McGuinty also warned that countries around the world are adjusting quickly to a changing global threat environment.
“I read yesterday that the Netherlands let 22 per cent of their public servants go — except for the defence department — to meet their obligations,” he said in a state-of-the-union style speech at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa.
“Other countries are doing away with national holidays. Others are increasing corporate taxes or running larger deficits in anticipation of the troubles that might be forthcoming.”
That comment cites Denmark’s recent decision to abolish a long weekend holiday called “Great Prayer Day” in an attempt to bring in more tax revenue to cover its NATO defence spending target.
The Liberal party’s election platform states that the single largest sum in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s spending plan — more than $30.9 billion — is earmarked for defence over the next four years.
McGuinty’s remarks come just a day after the Liberal government signalled in its throne speech, read by King Charles, that Canada plans to join ReArm Europe, a major European defence procurement pact.
McGuinty said joining the plan will diversify Canada’s defence partnerships and give it access to new opportunities in Europe’s $1.25 trillion defence marketplace.
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