Prime Minister Carney Unveils New Defence Strategy Amid Growing Threats
Prime Minister Mark Carney officially announced Canada's new "defence industrial strategy" on Tuesday, standing before employees at Montreal's CAE flight-simulator plant and pilot-training centre. The plan aims to supply the military and significantly increase Canada's domestic defence industry capabilities.
A Shift in Defence Policy
"We know that the world has changed and Canada must change with it," Carney declared as he outlined the comprehensive strategy. The plan focuses on building more military equipment domestically, increasing defence contracts awarded to Canadian firms, and creating approximately 125,000 jobs over the next decade.
Currently, about 70 percent of Canada's defence-related contracts are handled in the United States. To bolster national sovereignty and reduce dependency on the U.S., the government plans to reroute 70 percent of defence spending to Canadian companies.
Addressing Multiple Threats
"The presumptions that defined decades of Canada's policies in matters of defence and foreign affairs have been turned upside down," Carney emphasized. "The threats we are facing are numerous and multiplying. Incursions into our arctic, attacks targeting our cyberspace — the nature of war itself is in rapid transformation."
The strategy specifically aims to grow small and medium-sized businesses and help more enterprises enter the defence sector, creating a more robust domestic industrial base.
Political Reactions and Implementation Challenges
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has already dismissed the plan as a "salad bowl of buzzwords" that won't deliver meaningful results. He called on Ottawa to instead cut bureaucracy and streamline government purchasing decisions.
The much-anticipated roadmap for growing the defence industry was originally scheduled for release last year but faced multiple delays. The document finally leaked to an international news publication over the weekend before the official announcement.
Strategic Timing and International Commitments
The strategy's release comes as Ottawa works to shore up military supply chains and meet ambitious new NATO commitments. Canada has pledged to spend the equivalent of five percent of GDP on defence by 2035, representing a significant increase from current levels.
The defence industrial strategy represents a fundamental shift in how Canada approaches national security and military procurement, with emphasis on domestic capability building and reduced reliance on foreign suppliers.
