OTTAWA — The Liberal Party leader promised more money, manpower and equipment for Canada’s underfunded military. Read More
Liberal leader promises to modernize recruitment program, meet NATO defence spending minimums
Liberal leader promises to modernize recruitment program, meet NATO defence spending minimums
OTTAWA — The Liberal Party leader promised more money, manpower and equipment for Canada’s underfunded military.
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Speaking at a campaign stop Tuesday in Halifax, Mark Carney pledged to give Canada’s soldiers a raise and vowed to “modernize” the recruitment program that’s so far been unable to fill the gaps in our country’s defences.
“We will expand the capabilities of the navy with new submarines and additional heavy icebreakers to defend the north,” he said — a promise previously made by former PM Justin Trudeau.
“We will deliver an unprecedented acceleration of investment in our armed forces so that we can defend every inch of our sovereign territory while helping to support and defend our allies abroad.”
Carney also promised to meet NATO’s minimum defence spending requirement of 2% of GDP by 2030 — two years ahead of what was promised by the former PM.
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Despite the Liberals largely enjoying majority governments over the past decade, Carney blamed the previous government for Canada’s defence spending shortfalls.
“Our military is still underfunded,” Carney said, accusing the Stephen Harper government — who haven’t been in power since 2015 — of abandoning Canada’s military.
“Under the last Conservative government, when Pierre Poilievre was a minister, that government was spending less than 1% of GDP on defence.”
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Carney also accused the Conservatives of abandoning veterans, neglecting to mention Trudeau-era initiatives by Veterans Affairs Canada offering medically-assisted suicide to Canadian veterans suffering the psychological and mental effects from their deployments.
Carney also promised to modernize Canada’s recruitment process and fill Canada’s 14,000 member personnel shortage, construct new on-base housing and amenities, and give soldiers a much-needed pay raise.
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