Defence Minister Bill Blair is defending Canada91裸聊视频檚 spending promise at the NATO leaders91裸聊视频� summit in Washington, D.C., as critics throw cold water on the government91裸聊视频檚 new pledge to meet the two per cent target by 2032.

91裸聊视频淭hat number didn91裸聊视频檛 sort of just come out of the air,91裸聊视频� Blair said Friday after returning to Toronto. 91裸聊视频淚t came out of a lot of hard work.91裸聊视频�

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada91裸聊视频檚 new timeline Thursday, just hours before the end of the three-day summit and following days of pressure from NATO countries.

Members of the alliance have agreed to spend at least the equivalent of two per cent of national gross domestic product on defence. Canada was the only participant that arrived at the summit without a plan to reach the target.

While Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 commitment came with no details, Blair said Friday it amounts to about $60 billion a year starting in 2032, based on projections that Canada91裸聊视频檚 GDP will be a little bit north of $3 trillion that year.

Blair said the estimated projection came from NATO. It uses models from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of which Canada is also a member.

91裸聊视频淚t was important to be realistic about how long it was going to take to make these investments, to do it the right way,91裸聊视频� Blair said.

91裸聊视频淲e 91裸聊视频� thought the best and most verifiable date that we could provide to our allies was by 2032.91裸聊视频�

The announcement brought some assurances, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noting in a news conference Thursday that it meant all allies now had a timeline.

British High Commissioner to Canada Susannah Goshko and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen both posted praise for the pledge on social media.

But there was also concern the promise could violate at least one of the federal government91裸聊视频檚 fiscal anchors.

Randall Bartlett, a senior director of Canadian economics with Desjardins, posted an analysis online that showed the plan could put at risk Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 need to maintain a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio for 2024-25, and to keep deficits below one per cent in 2026-27 and into the future.

He noted the federal government 91裸聊视频渃an raise revenues or reduce spending elsewhere to pay for the increased outlays on defence without increasing the size of the deficit.91裸聊视频�

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 performance at the summit, saying the prime minister was 91裸聊视频渢reated like a human pi帽ata by the rest of the NATO countries.91裸聊视频�

But as for the apparent reason Trudeau got that treatment, the Conservative leader said he would not commit to the alliance91裸聊视频檚 spending goal.

He said that91裸聊视频檚 because he doesn91裸聊视频檛 make promises he cannot keep.

91裸聊视频淓very time I make a financial commitment, I am going to make sure I have pulled out my calculator and done all the math,91裸聊视频� Poilievre said at a press conference in Montreal on Friday.

91裸聊视频淏ecause people are sick and tired of politicians just announcing that they are going to spend money without figuring out how they are going to pay for it.91裸聊视频�

Blair didn91裸聊视频檛 provide details or figures on how Ottawa will meet or pay for its promise, but pointed to 10 capabilities Canada wants to acquire that were in April91裸聊视频檚 updated defence policy.

They include shoring up ground-based air defence, modernizing artillery capabilities and acquiring a suite of surveillance and strike drones.

The biggest-ticket item, by far, is the renewal and expansion of the Canadian submarine fleet.

Trudeau and Blair announced this week that Canada is beginning the procurement process to buy up to 12 conventionally powered submarines that can operate under ice.

Blair would not say Friday what that could cost.

The lack of details attached to the new timeline brought skepticism among some business leaders and stakeholders over whether it91裸聊视频檚 realistic to expect the spending boost.

The Business Council of Canada91裸聊视频檚 CEO Goldy Hyder said the target year alone doesn91裸聊视频檛 91裸聊视频渃larify how any new defence investments will be fiscally sustainable.91裸聊视频� He added it is unlikely to quell concerns from international leaders.

Matthew Holmes, with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, called the announcement 91裸聊视频渦nderwhelming at best.91裸聊视频�

In response to the criticism, Blair said the increased defence spending means the government has an opportunity to build better relationships with Canadian industry and workers.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just a matter of spending money as quickly as possible,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about investing.91裸聊视频�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2024.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press