Defence Minister Bill Blair says his government’s investments in the military are in stark contrast with the “very dark days” of the previous administration, despite presenting no plan to meet NATO’s spending target.
Mr. Blair appeared before the House of Commons national defence committee on April 15 to discuss Ottawa’s defence policy update, with MPs asking why more isn’t being done.
“There’s no sense of urgency here,” said Tory MP James Bezan, his party’s defence critic. Mr. Bezan noted the multiples crises occurring, from Ukraine to the Middle East, and domestic issues like troops having to resort to food banks.
Mr. Bezan asked the minister why there is no commitment in the policy update to meet NATO’s defence budget target of at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
Since taking power in 2015, Mr. Blair said, his government has increased defence spending by nearly 70 percent.
He told Mr. Bezan that by 2029 defence spending will have almost tripled compared with the “very dark days of 2014, the last days in which you were a parliamentary secretary of defence, where defence spending actually fell below 1 percent of GDP.”
Dollars are also allocated to support military members through a $295 million housing strategy over 20 years, and $100 million over five years to improve child care on military bases.
The issue of military spending for NATO allies came to the forefront in February when former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he would not protect a NATO member who doesn’t spend adequately on its own defence.
“We are making real progress: European Allies are spending more,“ he said. ”However, some allies still have a ways to go.”
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith told CTV News in February that Canada is the only country without a plan to reach the 2 percent target.
Largest spenders are currently Poland (3.92 percent), the United States (3.24 percent), and Greece (3.05). Only Luxembourg (1.01 percent), Belgium (1.21 percent), and Spain (1.24 percent) spend less than Canada.
