Canadians Show Growing Support for Military and Defence Spending

[daftandbarmy]

Nice...


Canadians Show Growing Support for Military and Defence Spending

Our national survey reveals an increase in Canadians’ positive impressions of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), alongside growing trust in their ability to defend the country. There is also strong public support for the government’s commitment to increased defence spending.

While Canadians prioritize domestic roles for the CAF, such as defending national territory and responding to natural disasters, they also express nuanced views on key challenges and the complexities of military procurement in a shifting political landscape.

This survey, conducted among 1,500 Canadian adults from June 17 to 19, 2025, explores public opinion on the CAF and the recently announced increase to the defence budget. Several questions were tracked from a previous survey conducted in March 2025, during the federal election campaign. For full results, see here.

Growing support for the Canadian Armed Forces

In March this year, we asked Canadians about their impressions of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). We repeated the question in this study, and the results show a positive shift in public sentiment. A combined 67% of Canadians now have a very or mostly positive impression of the CAF, an increase of 7 points since March. Notably, the share of those with a very positive impression rose from 21% to 31%, a 10-point gain.

Canadians Show Growing Support for Military and Defence Spending - Abacus Data

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abacusdata.ca

 

[OldSolduer]

Hey what about my free dental plan??!!!

 

[The Bread Guy]

But only so MUCH support ....

Half say they’d go to war for Canada, but young people far less willing to enlist -

Canadians who say they feel proud of Armed Forces declines by 27 points since 2019 July 10, 2025 – As Canada looks to ramp up spending on the Armed Forces to meet NATO commitments, there appears to be hesitation from young Canadians to fight for their country. New data from the non-profit Angus...

angusreid.org

 

[Halifax Tar]

But only so MUCH support ....

Half say they’d go to war for Canada, but young people far less willing to enlist -

Canadians who say they feel proud of Armed Forces declines by 27 points since 2019 July 10, 2025 – As Canada looks to ramp up spending on the Armed Forces to meet NATO commitments, there appears to be hesitation from young Canadians to fight for their country. New data from the non-profit Angus...

angusreid.org

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The saying here years ago was a mile wide and an inch thick.

 

[The Bread Guy]

The saying here years ago was a mile wide and an inch thick.

Liked it then and like it now - wish it wasn’t so, but here we are, for sure.

 

[Furniture]

But only so MUCH support ....

Half say they’d go to war for Canada, but young people far less willing to enlist -

Canadians who say they feel proud of Armed Forces declines by 27 points since 2019 July 10, 2025 – As Canada looks to ramp up spending on the Armed Forces to meet NATO commitments, there appears to be hesitation from young Canadians to fight for their country. New data from the non-profit Angus...

angusreid.org

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I'm sure it has nothing to do with the MSM jumping with glee on any and every opportunity to make the CAF look bad, and the GoC rarely publicly backing the CAF...

 

[The Bread Guy]

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the MSM jumping with glee on any and every opportunity to make the CAF look bad, and the GoC rarely publicly backing the CAF...

I'd say those issues might contribute to some of it, but I see it more as "meh neglect."

No existential wars on (and during Afghanistan, more than one serving member told me it often felt like the CF was at war and Canada was at the mall, Liberal or Tory government in play) and no history of being a generally reaching-out colonial power where the military was busy helping get more stuff for Canada Inc.

Also, using VERY, very rough numbers ...

• 68,000 regs + 27,000 reserves + 5,000 Rangers = ~100,000 in military uniform (leaving Cadets out for this)
• VAC says there's ~460,000 vets of all kinds still alive in Canada, so that's ~560K either in or been in the military
• If, say, 7 people know each of those 560K (some will have larger circles, some smaller), that's about 4.5 million all in
• That's a bit more than 1 out of 10 Canadians are either in, have been in or know someone who is/has been in

We see how much effect something like 2.5M or so licensed gun owners have on governments both Red or Blue and the public, so I'm going to guess (optimistically) maybe double that much may not have much more impact

Easy to wear a poppy a couple of weeks a year, let's see how people would do if a bunch of stuff had to be cut bigly to fund the CF.

 

[Castus]

Easy to wear a poppy a couple of weeks a year, let's see how people would do if a bunch of stuff had to be cut bigly to fund the CF.

Increasingly fewer Canadians wear a poppy for any time of the year, I'm afraid. It has been very noticeable for the last few years.

 

[Fabius]

This is another interesting poll.

Half say they’d go to war for Canada, but young people far less willing to enlist -

Canadians who say they feel proud of Armed Forces declines by 27 points since 2019 July 10, 2025 – As Canada looks to ramp up spending on the Armed Forces to meet NATO commitments, there appears to be hesitation from young Canadians to fight for their country. New data from the non-profit Angus...

angusreid.org

 

[Halifax Tar]

This is another interesting poll.
View attachment 94567

Half say they’d go to war for Canada, but young people far less willing to enlist -

Canadians who say they feel proud of Armed Forces declines by 27 points since 2019 July 10, 2025 – As Canada looks to ramp up spending on the Armed Forces to meet NATO commitments, there appears to be hesitation from young Canadians to fight for their country. New data from the non-profit Angus...

angusreid.org

I really like how they aligned a solid yes with a maybe and turned it into a yes.

 

[OldSolduer]

I really like how they aligned a solid yes with a maybe and turned it into a yes.

"Excuse me but I can't possibly go to war!! I have a hair appointment, a tat appointment, and appointment at Starbucks, an appointment for a pro (insert left wing cause here) and my student loan hasn't been forgiven."

 

[markppcli]

"Excuse me but I can't possibly go to war!! I have a hair appointment, a tat appointment, and appointment at Starbucks, an appointment for a pro (insert left wing cause here) and my student loan hasn't been forgiven."

Or is it about a general feeling the Canada is built to support their parents and grand parents generations at their expense and why would they risk life and limb for a country of crumbling infrastructure in cities they can’t afford to live while they pay for the debt that allowed previous generations to live better?

 

[MilEME09]

Or is it about a general feeling the Canada is built to support their parents and grand parents generations at their expense and why would they risk life and limb for a country of crumbling infrastructure in cities they can’t afford to live while they pay for the debt that allowed previous generations to live better?

I hear it all the time from my in-laws of how the dislike canada because "you cant live any more" give people a natuon they can be proud of and they will fight for it

 

[FJAG]

Or is it about a general feeling the Canada is built to support their parents and grand parents generations at their expense and why would they risk life and limb for a country of crumbling infrastructure in cities they can’t afford to live while they pay for the debt that allowed previous generations to live better?

The young people in 1930s Canada lived in far worse conditions than ours do now. Most young men lived at home with their parents until well into their twenties and thirties when they could finally afford marriage and accommodation of their own. The depression still had a lingering effect.

It's not the conditions; it's the expectations. Post WW2 the nation changed. It was a lengthy boom period. As a 60s Boomer there was never a question of "will I find a job?" it was "which job do I want to take?" Houses kept getting bigger and more numerous in big city made possible by the high number of post-war European immigrant labour. They built houses and didn't run 7/11s or nail parlors.

If the message hasn't been clear yet, the current generation contain a very high percentage of whingers who social mediaize and wonder why things aren't falling into their hands. What else could one possibly expect from the children and grandchildren of the "Me Generation." It's not so much that their conditions are so terrible, it's that their unfulfilled expectations are unrealistically high.

 

[RedFive]

If the message hasn't been clear yet, the current generation contain a very high percentage of whingers who social mediaize and wonder why things aren't falling into their hands. What else could one possibly expect from the children and grandchildren of the "Me Generation." It's not so much that their conditions are so terrible, it's that their unfulfilled expectations are unrealistically high.

Just before I go ahead and lay out why I disagree with you, what do you mean by "current generation"? 18-25? 25-35? Everybody under 40?

Who are the me generation? And what are these unrealistic expectations?

 

[markppcli]

The young people in 1930s Canada lived in far worse conditions than ours do now. Most young men lived at home with their parents until well into their twenties and thirties when they could finally afford marriage and accommodation of their own. The depression still had a lingering effect.

It's not the conditions; it's the expectations. Post WW2 the nation changed. It was a lengthy boom period. As a 60s Boomer there was never a question of "will I find a job?" it was "which job do I want to take?" Houses kept getting bigger and more numerous in big city made possible by the high number of post-war European immigrant labour. They built houses and didn't run 7/11s or nail parlors.

If the message hasn't been clear yet, the current generation contain a very high percentage of whingers who social mediaize and wonder why things aren't falling into their hands. What else could one possibly expect from the children and grandchildren of the "Me Generation." It's not so much that their conditions are so terrible, it's that their unfulfilled expectations are unrealistically high.

We’re looking at the first generations whose quality of life will be worse than that of their parents. That’s the key difference.

 

[FJAG]

Just before I go ahead and lay out why I disagree with you, what do you mean by "current generation"? 18-25? 25-35? Everybody under 40?

Who are the me generation? And what are these unrealistic expectations?

The "Me" generation is us Boomers. We're the ones who had all the good fortune (excepting of course having to worry about nuclear bombs all the time and being taught how to hide under our school desks). We had a more than normal jump in our collective standard of living which gave rise in all who came after us that these good times would roll forever.

In many ways they have. Communications have blossomed. My generation started with rotary telephones and one channel on the TV (Black and White - not colour). Health care - way better - my generation fought off polio and measles and smallpox and won. I could go on, but you probably see my point.

As to who is the current generation? I'm obviously being arbitrary and generalizing, but let's say the under 50 crowd. And I do mean "generalizing," because I can see tons of folks in that age group who are doing a good job. I live in a better than average suburban neighbourhood filled with folks with two or three cars in their driveway - inevitably with one pickup truck and one SUV - who are earning a living and own their own home. They've either lived with realistic expectations or have figured out a way to get to where they are.

My problem is with those who are constantly whinging that the world just isn't fair and its us old codgers who are to blame.

We’re looking at the first generations whose quality of life will be worse than that of their parents. That’s the key difference.

Wait until we die. You'll inherit all of our loot.

In the meantime don't vote for another Justin or Donald.

 

[dapaterson]

Wait until we die. You'll inherit all of our loot.

Just don't get caught being impatient. CCC 231(2) could cost you your inheritance...

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Everyone can have their say on Budget 2025 in this consultation survey.

Pre-Budget Consultations 2025 - Canada.ca

Pre-Budget Consultations 2025

www.canada.ca

 

[RedFive]

My problem is with those who are constantly whinging that the world just isn't fair and its us old codgers who are to blame.

Fair enough. I'm not one who spends his time whining online (I say as I type out this reply), but I am part of a generation that did what I was told was right and still can't get ahead.

I started working at 16, and have ever since. I've had two jobs since I was 18. I used them to pay for a history degree, and got myself about 90% of the way to a red seal in carpentry. I came out the business end of that with a mountain of debt from college, tools, etc that took me years of my current job to pay off.

I'm educated, I have experience in multiple different careers and my quality of life is not what I want or expect for the effort and time I've put in. I make enough that I don't struggle, but getting ahead means scrimping every single loonie until I'm not enjoying life, and even then the 'ahead' I'm getting isn't enough. I also make enough that most of the bright ideas and programs to "help Canadians get ahead" don't apply to me.

I'm now at the age where I should be getting married and having kids, and I can afford neither. All I wanted was a good job that paid enough for a single family house, a nice car in the garage and room to grow a family. I have a two bedroom apartment in a garbage building thrown up during Covid I pay a landlord the King's own ransom to borrow, and my second bedroom is stacked to the ceiling with all the green and blue uniform items I'm required to store.

I acknowledge I've got it better than a lot of people my age but I'm still simmering with anger over how the last 10-15 years has gone, and there's no changes coming any time soon regardless of who is in power.

Wait until we die. You'll inherit all of our loot.

No I won't, my parents put everything they had into getting my brother and I where we are today and I'll likely be funding their retirement. Depends how the house does when it sells. Which means I have an interest in house prices going down AND staying where they are. Even more infuriating.

In the meantime don't vote for another Justin or Donald.

Has never been a problem. Doesn't feel like anybody in Ottawa gives a rats ass about Canadians like me.