In June, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that 'the transformation of our military capabilities can help transform our economy.'Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press

Eugene Lang is the acting director of the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University, a senior fellow at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History at the University of Toronto and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking in June at the University of Toronto, had big plans for how Canada’s military could help boost the economy.

“To build the military we need, we can deploy and develop Canadian innovation, ingenuity and industry,” he said in prepared remarks. “The transformation of our military capabilities can help transform our economy.”

Mr. Carney’s position was that his government’s increase in defence funding – a $9.3-billion annual boost beginning this year – can and should have a big impact on the Canadian economy. It’s not a moment too soon, given Canada’s relatively high unemployment, anemic productivity growth and recession risk.

Mr. Carney’s point is therefore non-controversial to most people. It’s common sense. A no-brainer.

Yet........

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