The 2022 federal budget will likely include a boost in defence spending, but don’t be fooled: it may not mean much
. Do not expect that increase to signal a new and sustained commitment to restoring Canada’s rundown military.
After years of delays, Canada is finally committed to acquiring the F-35 fighter jet. Leah Sarson, a professor of international relations at Dalhousie University, expects to see a commitment as well to upgrade NORAD aerospace defences.But she doesn’t expect any sustained effort to bring Canadian defence spending up to the NATO target of 2 per cent of GDP.
Russia and China covet resources in Canada’s Arctic, but there have been no overt threats, and for most Canadians, the Arctic is very far away. The military in Canada has such a small footprint that its well being doesn’t register with Canadians. Politicians don’t prioritize it because no one raises the issue at the door.
The question, then, is whether the events in Ukraine will galvanize public opinion in favour of sustained increases. The answer is almost certainly no. As Prof. Sarson points out, “elections have never been won based on defence spending.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canada to spend $2B on mineral strategy for EV battery supply chainJustin Trudeau\u0027s government will release its federal budget this week
Read more »
Canada may have hit its long-awaited electric vehicle turning point | CBC NewsCompelling carmakers to sell a specific percentage of EVs has been proven to work not just in places like California but right here in Canada. Despite evident reluctance by manufacturers to make the shift to electric, this could be the turning point.
Read more »
Telecom complaints in Canada have decreased, but disclosure issues and bill problems still top list: reportA new report found that complaints from Canadian telecom and TV customers decreased 26% between Aug. 1, 2021 and Jan. 31, 2022 compared with the same period a year earlier
Read more »
Opinion: Canada needs a unified approach for people fleeing Ukraine and AfghanistanOttawa has unjustifiably provided different supports and services to Ukrainians and Afghans trying to escape to safety
Read more »
Animal sedative linked to opioid overdose deaths in Canada | CBC NewsA powerful drug used to sedate horses and cattle is creeping into Canada's illicit drug supply and has been detected in a growing number of human drug poisoning deaths in Ontario.
Read more »