PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Canada announced an additional defense investment of $8 billion over five years.
Let it be said: when Canada pumps up its muscles these days, it pumps them up… a little! Because if since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia we repeat in Ottawa that the world has changed, the fact remains that Canada has not changed that much in terms of its defense investments.
Posted at 9:00 a.m.
We will not spit in the soup; what was announced in the federal budget is a step in the right direction.
We are talking about an injection of $8 billion more over five years, that is to say at least $2 billion more each year.
But it is rather 15 billion more annually that Ottawa should have invested to reach 2% of the gross domestic product of the country, that is to say the commitment made by the members of NATO.
Under the new budget, Canada’s contribution will increase to 1.5% in 2026-27 (currently 1.36%).
Others have responded to his aggression more firmly than we have.
This is the case of Germany, which promised in February that it would immediately increase its contribution to 2% of GDP.
Many experts believe that Canada’s effort is insufficient to fill the gaps in the Canadian Armed Forces.
One day, our actions will have to live up to our ambitions.