Canada continues to miss its NATO defence spending target, but Defence Minister Bill Blair promises the goal will eventually be reached, as Russia91裸聊视频檚 war in Ukraine raises a threat of expanded conflict in Europe.
Numbers NATO released this week show Canada is expected to spend 1.37 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence this year, falling short of the two per cent target Western allies have agreed upon.
Blair took pains to note that the federal Liberals are doing better than their Conservative predecessors.
91裸聊视频淚n 2014, Canada91裸聊视频檚 defence spending actually fell for the only time in its history below one per cent,91裸聊视频� Blair said.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a long way to come back from.91裸聊视频�
Last year, members of the alliance agreed to spend a minimum of two per cent of their economies on defence, a reflection of worries over Russia91裸聊视频檚 ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Blair91裸聊视频檚 comments come as NATO91裸聊视频檚 Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visits Ottawa.
He is slated to give a speech and receive an award at an event hosted by the NATO Association of Canada on Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is then expected to host him for dinner.
That follows a Monday visit to Washington, D.C., where Stoltenberg met with U.S. President Joe Biden.
A handful of protesters gathered outside a building in the parliamentary precinct where Stoltenberg was set to speak on Wednesday.
On the sidewalk in front of the building, 91裸聊视频淐anada lagging behind our NATO allies91裸聊视频� was written in chalk, along with 91裸聊视频淭rudeau and Blair laughing stocks of the world91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淐anadians are not laughing.91裸聊视频�
Defence spending across European allies and Canada, was up nearly 18 per cent this year alone, Stoltenberg said during a speech at the White House 91裸聊视频� the biggest increase in decades.
Blair has said Canada91裸聊视频檚 defence spending will climb to at least 1.75 per cent of its GDP by 2029.
He asserted Wednesday that additional spending on a new submarine fleet and integrated air defence and missile systems will probably push the figure past the two per cent mark.
91裸聊视频淟et me assure you that we91裸聊视频檝e been doing a great deal of work within our Defence Department, with the government of Canada, but also with our NATO allies,91裸聊视频� Blair said on Wednesday.
He said allies were 91裸聊视频渧ery encouraged91裸聊视频� by a defence policy update Canada released earlier this year.
91裸聊视频淚t results in historic and upward trajectory of defence spending for Canada.91裸聊视频�
Both Blair and Treasury Board President Anita Anand acknowledged this week that spending is delayed because of a shortage of procurement workers.
91裸聊视频淲e have the ability to accelerate spending. It does require an investment in people to get the job done,91裸聊视频� Blair said.
The Liberal government has set aside $1.8 billion over 20 years to increase the number of workers who can purchase new equipment, recruit, train new soldiers and upgrade infrastructure.
It91裸聊视频檚 superficial to speak about the two per cent target without examining how that money will be spent in the short and long term, said Anand, who was former defence minister but now holds the government91裸聊视频檚 purse strings.
91裸聊视频淚f you can understand that procurements take time and they require expertise, then you would see the need to have more public servants who are able to work on those procurements 91裸聊视频� and multiple procurements at the same time 91裸聊视频� to get them out the door, to spend that money,91裸聊视频� she said Tuesday.
91裸聊视频淎nd why would we continue to fill the books with additional money if that money can91裸聊视频檛 get out the door?91裸聊视频�
Stoltenberg91裸聊视频檚 last visit to Canada was in August 2022, when he and Trudeau spent time in the Arctic together.
That region is the highlight of Canada91裸聊视频檚 most recent defence policy update, and it91裸聊视频檚 seen as increasingly important to NATO since Sweden and Finland joined the alliance.
NATO leaders are set to meet in Washington, D.C., next month for an annual summit and mark the alliance91裸聊视频檚 75th anniversary.
Increasing funding for Ukraine will be an agenda priority, after Stoltenberg came forward with a proposal for all NATO allies to contribute 40 billion euros a year, Blair said.
At the White House, Stoltenberg said his expectation for next month91裸聊视频檚 meeting is to have allies agree 91裸聊视频渢o step up financial and military support to Ukraine,91裸聊视频� and reduce the burden on the U.S.
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