Government hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I have long said that you could fund the CAF to 4 percent of GDP, but we would still lag behind in NATO and be much the same where we are.

It's never the money, it's politics. It's procedures. It's the pork-barreling in our defence spending that makes us a paper tiger in NATO.

My only hope in all of this for the CAF and the GoC, whatever the political stripe that may be, is that it will rouse them out of the "Peace Dividend" slumber. The world has been unstable since 1945. We have used geography, proximity, and association as a Defence Policy ever since. ICBMs don't care how close to the U.S. or how far from Russia/China we are.

Don't give us a dime more, but let us spend money on defence like it matters. The fact we follow the same rules for purchasing a fighter aircraft as we do for buying office furniture for a Service Canada office is disgraceful. Don't treat defense procurement as a stimulus package for Canadian Industry. There I said it.

We spend so much money, time, and effort trying to get that money to stay in Canada; be it by awarding contracts to companies with no capability to produce items without first "retooling" and"developing the production lines", or by hamstringing perfectly competent and competitive bidders by forcing the project to be made in St. Margaret de Poutain de Champignon, QC because the ruling government either lost the seat in the election, or won it with promises.

We spend so much money and staff hours jumping through TBS regulations that are great for other departments, but are terrible for defence procurement. Some items you have to sole source, because there are technologies and capabilities no one else makes. By doing the bid process, you get companies clamoring for a project they can't deliver on, but because they tick the bright boxes on the score sheet....

I truly and honestly belief we need to split from PSPC and legislate that its not beholden to TBS, only to the PBO/PCO. The guiding principles of this new Defence Procurement department should be "Off the shelf, from somewhere else" if there isn't an industry in Canada.

BOOTFORGEN has demonstrated how well we do when we are able to actually get what we need, instead of lining the pockets of a Canadian company that got lucky.

That, but with tanks, fighters, ships, weapons systems....

 

[KevinB]

If all you care about is defence spending. Sure. Most people, especially outside this forum, aren't that one dimensional.

Quite frankly, if I had to choose between the global economy not getting wrecked and Canada getting to 2%, I am choosing the former, because I don't want to see my friends and family unemployed and broke.

The Danes are laggards in Defense spending as well. So no shock that he’s talking about two countries that are weak in Defense and have approaches that can leave the US vulnerable.

Do I think that President Trump’s approach is correct, no, but he pushed in his first term and was ignored. So he’s going scorched earth this time to force the issue.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Keep in mind Denmark is basically the State of Wisconsin in population terms.

 

[ytz]

The Danes are laggards in Defense spending as well. So no shock that he’s talking about two countries that are weak in Defense and have approaches that can leave the US vulnerable.

The Danes are at 2%. And they would have gone higher if they could actually buy more. They've been slowed down by suppliers.

Do I think that President Trump’s approach is correct, no, but he pushed in his first term and was ignored. So he’s going scorched earth this time to force the issue.

He is abrogating the very trade deal he signed in his first term with new conditions. Why wasn't defence spending part of USMCA the first time if it was so important? And if defence spending is so important, why was Korea (2.8%) hit with tariffs?

Also, why is the administration suddenly complaining about this if it's really all about just bolstering capability?

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/

You're trying to find reason in madness, where there is none. And the rest of the world isn't going to buy this bullshit. You know what could happen? People give up. If there's no point negotiating or the conditions are ridiculously onerous (Taiwan should spend 10%!) countries will simply decide to ignore American dictates and move on. And we're getting close to that point. What's the point of listening to American complaints when you can't trust them to actually meet NATO obligations anyway? Just spend what is necessary to fend off the Russians (for Europe) and call it a day. Or if you're Japan, South Korea, Taiwan or Vietnam, I guess it's time to cut a deal with a China.

 

[MrWhyt]

Let's all give a warm thank you to #47 for that.

Though many won't admit it, if it wasn't for 47 we wouldn't even be talking about defence.

That's like thanking Hitler for revitalizing US manufacturing in the 40s

 

[Remius]

That's like thanking Hitler for revitalizing US manufacturing in the 40s

There are lessons to be learned for sure.

But thanking him is just about the dumbest shit I’ve heard when it comes to this.

 

[KevinB]

The Danes are at 2%. And they would have gone higher if they could actually buy more. They've been slowed down by suppliers.

The Danish government was in the low 1%’s for years getting to 2% at 2023 and continuing 2% isn’t going to get them in any sort of shape.

Slowed down by suppliers sounds much like Canada, the fact they run a lot of assinine procurement processes that add nothing and simply slow role capabilities is the issue, again much like Canada.

He is abrogating the very trade deal he signed in his first term with new conditions.

100% agree

Why wasn't defence spending part of USMCA the first time if it was so important?

I’d agree that for all his ranting about Defense in his first term, he really didn’t push it.

And if defence spending is so important, why was Korea (2.8%) hit with tariffs?

Probably because Korea is cutting into US Defense company sales…

Also, why is the administration suddenly complaining about this if it's really all about just bolstering capability?

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/

I’d say because it was their very shortsighted actions that made the world consider if the US is a reliable partner, and now when countries take that into consideration it hurts our domestic economy.

You're trying to find reason in madness, where there is none. And the rest of the world isn't going to buy this bullshit. You know what could happen? People give up. If there's no point negotiating or the conditions are ridiculously onerous (Taiwan should spend 10%!) countries will simply decide to ignore American dictates and move on. And we're getting close to that point. What's the point of listening to American complaints when you can't trust them to actually meet NATO obligations anyway? Just spend what is necessary to fend off the Russians (for Europe) and call it a day. Or if you're Japan, South Korea, Taiwan or Vietnam, I guess it's time to cut a deal with a China.

I think most Americans are past caring what Canada thinks. Your government has shirked its responsibilities for years. Then while Russia is moving east starts talking about dental and daycare, so most are angry at Canada.

I’m no fan of the actions of the Trump Administration here, but if you miss decades of angst caused by Canadian budgetary priorities not being a major cause you’re missing the way the situation gets support here.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

They could always up our share to 2% and buy a bunch of new equipment with it. Satisfy NATO.

Then give it all to Ukraine.

 

[ytz]

The Danish government was in the low 1%’s for years getting to 2% at 2023 and continuing 2% isn’t going to get them in any sort of shape.

So now it's not enough to meet 2%. You gotta pay for past sins too?

I struggle to understand why the US is actually in NATO at this point.

Slowed down by suppliers sounds much like Canada, the fact they run a lot of assinine procurement processes that add nothing and simply slow role capabilities is the issue, again much like Canada.

Denmark is small enough that shipments actually move their numbers. If their F-35s got there faster, they'd actually be ahead of 2%.

I’d agree that for all his ranting about Defense in his first term, he really didn’t push it.

Probably because Korea is cutting into US Defense company sales…

I’d say because it was their very shortsighted actions that made the world consider if the US is a reliable partner, and now when countries take that into consideration it hurts our domestic economy.

Right. So this was never about defence. It was about the US getting its cut. And now that there's a risk they might not, they are throwing a hissy fit.

I think most Americans are past caring what Canada thinks. Your government has shirked its responsibilities for years. Then while Russia is moving east starts talking about dental and daycare, so most are angry at Canada.

I don't expect most Americans to care what Canadians think. Or what Europeans think. Or the Japanese. Etc. I am just surprised they keep insisting on their right to an empire without understanding the cost of maintaining it.

"We won't protect you. But y'all should listen to us."

Good luck with that.

 

[Remius]

“The American age is over. And it ended because the American people were no longer worthy of it.”

 

[ytz]

They could always up our share to 2% and buy a bunch of new equipment with it. Satisfy NATO.

Then give it all to Ukraine.

This. But unironically.

Ukraine kicking Russiam keister helps us all.

 

[ytz]

“The American age is over. And it ended because the American people were no longer worthy of it.”

At least the Romans took centuries to decline. At the rate the US is going, my grandkids might need to learn Mandarin.

 

[ytz]

I’m no fan of the actions of the Trump Administration here, but if you miss decades of angst caused by Canadian budgetary priorities not being a major cause you’re missing the way the situation gets support here.

By the way. "Americans don't care what Canadians think" doesn't quite line up with "decades of angst caused by Canadian budgetary priorities".

You and I both know this is bullshit. The average American never thinks of Canada unless its mentioned in the news. The only people concerned about defence underspending in Canada are a handful of politicians and elites driven by either concerns about NATO or business for American defence firms. The average American doesn't give a shit about this.

And now we're at the point where American elites don't care about NATO and seem to willing to sacrifice defence industry jobs (and all kinds of other jobs). So.... Indeed, y'all will apparently be lining up to make Nikes in factories now instead of doing woke shit like building AMRAAMs and coding AI.

 

[QV]

That's like thanking Hitler for revitalizing US manufacturing in the 40s

Only an extreme level of TDS associates Trump with Hitler.

 

[Remius]

Only an extreme level of TDS associates Trump with Hitler.

Only an extreme level of MAGA cultism would even think of having Canadians warmly thanking Trump for any of this. But here we are…

 

[Remius]

At least the Romans took centuries to decline. At the rate the US is going, my grandkids might need to learn Mandarin.

And reports are that China is already moving to fill the USAID voids left behind. And I would not be surprised if they form a larger Asian trading bloc.

 

[ytz]

Only an extreme level of TDS associates Trump with Hitler.

You're right. He's America's Yeltsin.

 

[KevinB]

By the way. "Americans don't care what Canadians think" doesn't quite line up with "decades of angst caused by Canadian budgetary priorities".

It does when you consider that as history, and used to drive a wedge. It’s almost like a KGB playbook from the 80’s, oh wait…

You and I both know this is bullshit. The average American never thinks of Canada unless its mentioned in the news. The only people concerned about defence underspending in Canada are a handful of politicians and elites driven by either concerns about NATO or business for American defence firms. The average American doesn't give a shit about this.

Your second sentence hit it, 47 is gaslighting countries. But he mixes enough truths in to cause outrage with his larger points that aren’t factual.

And now we're at the point where American elites don't care about NATO and seem to willing to sacrifice defence industry jobs (and all kinds of other jobs). So.... Indeed, y'all will apparently be lining up to make Nikes in factories now instead of doing woke shit like building AMRAAMs and coding AI.

Idiocracy circa 2025.

Well at least I’ve got my guns.
The cartridge box never fails unlike the ballot box…

 

[Underway]

You're right. He's America's Yeltsin.

Oh geez, I laughed so hard at this is forgot which way way gravity worked for a minute!

 

[KevinB]

You're right. He's America's Yeltsin.

So does that make Vance the American Putin?
Which admittedly I have as the Manchurian Candidate on my Bingo card. 2025 is a pretty strange year.
Ronald Reagan is rolling in his grave.

 

[Underway]

I never thought I would say this but I miss the homestead family feeling of Regan.