National

Trudeau says Canada expects to hit NATO defence spending target in 2032

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jul, 2024 10:03 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada expects to hit the NATO defence spending target in 2032.

The 32 members of the alliance agreed last year to spend at least the equivalent of two per cent of national gross domestic product on defence.

News I shared with @ZelenskyyUA in our talks at @NATO: Canada plans to reinforce Ukraine’s defence with $500 million more in military support — and train more Ukrainian fighter pilots to defend their skies against Russia. pic.twitter.com/Efl4X1rCyE
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 11, 2024

Canada is lagging behind, with current spending at around 1.37 per cent, which is set to rise to 1.76 per cent by the end of the decade.

Trudeau has been under pressure from allies at this year's NATO leaders' summit to produce a plan showing how Canada will get to two per cent.

The issue has taken on particular importance with Donald Trump running for re-election in the U.S., because he has been vocal about so-called freeloading allies who aren't spending enough.

In a press conference this afternoon in Washington, D.C., Trudeau said Canada expects to reach the spending target in eight years, but he offered no specific details about how that will happen.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada's spy agency saw low-level Chinese meddling activities in 2019 election: Gould

The former minister of democratic institutions says she was told after the October 2019 federal election that Canada's spy agency had seen low-level foreign interference activities by China. Karina Gould, who held the portfolio from early 2017 to November 2019, said in a classified interview last month that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service indicated the activities were similar to what had been seen in the past.

Canada's spy agency saw low-level Chinese meddling activities in 2019 election: Gould

BoC holds key rate at 5%

Governor Tiff Macklem says economic data since January has improved the central bank’s confidence that inflation will continue to slow, even as economic growth picks up. The governor says while the Bank of Canada is seeing the evidence it needs to begin lowering interest rates, it needs to see price pressures ease for longer to make sure the decline in inflation is sustained.

BoC holds key rate at 5%

B.C. announces one-time $430 rent relief benefit to low-income seniors

The British Columbia government is granting a one-time $430 benefit to the roughly 20,000 seniors in its support program for elderly low-income renters. B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says eligible seniors don't need to apply for the payment, which will be sent out this month.

B.C. announces one-time $430 rent relief benefit to low-income seniors

Two blows to B.C.'s credit status, as S&P cuts rating and Moody's turns negative

British Columbia's credit status took a double blow on Tuesday, with S&P downgrading the province due to the risk of "outsize" deficits, and Moody's turning its outlook negative. S&P Global Ratings blamed big government spending as it dropped its credit rating for the province and BC Hydro's provincially guaranteed unsecured debt from AA status to AA-minus.

Two blows to B.C.'s credit status, as S&P cuts rating and Moody's turns negative

B.C. makes it easier to salvage timber damaged by wildfires

The B.C. government says it's making it easier for forestry companies to salvage timber damaged by wildfires. Sustainable Forestry Innovation Minister Andrew Mercier says in a statement that changes to the price of fees for harvesting timber on Crown land make salvage "more economic," and will speed up forest regeneration.

B.C. makes it easier to salvage timber damaged by wildfires

B.C. moves alone on Surrey Police Service after mayor, council refuse to leave RCMP

British Columbia is moving ahead with the transition to an independent police service in Surrey after the mayor and council refused to part ways with the RCMP. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says a plan is in place for the continued transition to the independent Surrey Police Service, and he'll release more details next week on how that will work.