National

NATO estimate of Canadian defence spending dips

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 31 Mar, 2022 12:00 PM

OTTAWA - New NATO figures suggest Canada is even farther from meeting the military alliance's spending target than previously believed.

NATO estimated last June that Canada would spend about 1.39 per cent of its national GDP on defence in 2021.

But in a report released today the alliance has lowered that figure, estimating Canada spent only about 1.36 per cent of GDP on its military last year.

While the difference appears miniscule, it nonetheless moves Canada farther from the two per cent spending target that all NATO members agreed to in 2014 and reaffirmed during a special meeting last week.

Defence Minister Anita Anand says this morning that the government has committed to increase defence spending, noting a federal budget will be presented next week.

The Royal Canadian Air Force is currently in action alongside its NATO allies during Ex FRISIAN FLAG 🇳🇱 in the Netherlands where they train together at command, crew, maintainer and support team levels. pic.twitter.com/5KfRNCtmJn
— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) March 31, 2022

It also comes as most allies are moving in the other direction, with only four of the 29 other NATO members set to spend less of their GDP on defence than Canada.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Top court to weigh timing of roadside breath tests

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a case that hinges on the time police took to arrange a breath test for a Quebec man. Asked if he had been drinking, Breault said he'd had one beer, but insisted he had not been driving the vehicle, contradicting trail patrollers who had contacted the police.

Top court to weigh timing of roadside breath tests

Alberta coal panel accused of bias, U.S. influence

Members of Citizens Supportive of Crowsnest Coal have been writing letters to Premier Jason Kenney and Energy Minister Sonya Savage that suggest the panel's report is likely to be skewed and one-sided.

Alberta coal panel accused of bias, U.S. influence

StatCan: Online census response rate hits new high

Statistics Canada says about 84 per cent of completed census questionnaires were filled out online. The agency beat its goal to of having 80 per cent of census questionnaires completed online — an option made available for the first time to all regions of the country.

StatCan: Online census response rate hits new high

Biden noncommittal on EV carveout for Canada

Canada and Mexico both are worried that the tax credit proposal, which if implemented as it stands would be worth up to $12,500 to a new car buyer, is too heavily geared toward U.S.-made vehicles.

Biden noncommittal on EV carveout for Canada

Mayor says farmers in Abbotsford need water

The mayor of a city heavily impacted by flooding in southern British Columbia says farmers who stayed with their animals desperately need water for livestock. Henry Braun said Thursday that water levels in Abbotsford continue to fluctuate in the Sumas Prairie area two days after an evacuation order was issued.

Mayor says farmers in Abbotsford need water

Train leaves Hope, B.C., with about 200 people

A late-night evacuation passenger train carrying about 200 people stranded for days by British Columbia's mudslides and floods left Hope for Vancouver Wednesday. Jonathan Abecassis, a spokesman for Canadian National, said the emergency evacuation train was expected to arrive in Vancouver shortly after 10 p.m.