For too long, Canada’s defence spending has fallen short. We have failed to invest in the institutions that made Canada a nation worth respecting on the international stage. If elected as Prime Minister, I commit to increase investment in our military sector to allow Canada to regain its competitive edge on the world stage.
I will start by committing to spend the equivalent of 2% of GDP on our defense, to meet Canada’s NATO obligations by 2029 because we are not only a member, but a founding nation of that organisation. We will work with supply chains to reduce delays in major equipment upgrades and lapsed appropriations in order to achieve the spending target by that date.
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I will work to increase enrollment numbers by providing a strong recruitment incentive package. We will also work to increase inter-operability with other military forces, creating stronger ties with foreign governments and propelling Canada onto centre stage, putting to practice our exceptional training capabilities within the CAF.
- Salary increases aimed at regular forces members as well as reservists
- Directed funding towards equipping the CAF with the most advanced tactical gear, produced here in Canada. This will include Arctic equipment to facilitate the Arctic training ramp-up, and an end to out-of-pocket spending by ground forces for upgrades to standard tactical vests, boots, and rucksacks.
- Increase the amount of active peacekeepers across the globe. As of October, 2024, Canada only had 33 active troop and police contributors, while countries of similar size currently have 4-7 times this number.
- Make the protection of the North West Passage and northern defence an official National Priority. To this end, we will invest in our northern naval and air defence capabilities, as well as deep water ports to support those forces. These deep water ports also act as bridging points within future trading routes through the North West Passage, where deep water ports will be necessary for the maintenance and safety of shipping lanes.
- Make defence procurement an official National Priority. We will launch the Canadian Agency for Advanced Research in Defence (CAARD) to act as a bridge between the government, defence contractors, and academic institutions, engaging in research projects to develop advanced technologies with the potential for broad practical application.
- Establish a Defence Procurement Plan that assesses our procurement priorities with an emphasis on next generation technologies. This procurement plan must be open and transparent. Procurement will come from Canadian businesses that house the technological capabilities, and will encourage R&D within our own country, rather than being outsourced. In doing so, we will amend procurement processes to have a clause that states contract winners must benefit Canadian industry. By building Canadian businesses’ domestic contracting capabilities, we also create international contract opportunities for these businesses.
“I believe that through intelligent procurement, we can provide Canada’s armed forces with the best available technology and equipment which in turn will advance sectoral development in innovative technology and manufacturing sectors here in Canada.”
- Frank Baylis, National Post Op-Ed : “Increasing defence spending is a strategic imperative” (13 July, 2024).