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Canada’s Defence Buildup Should Build More than a Military

If Ottawa plays it right, the spending surge could support a new generation of Canadian companies

Few shifts in public opinion have been as dramatic as the country’s embrace of defence. According to an EKOS poll from this past February, 75 percent of Canadians now believe we need to spend more on the military, with almost the same number agreeing Canada must meet the new North Atlantic Treaty Organization defence spending target of 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035—a commitment that could mean roughly $150 billion a year.

A majority of Canadians believe Canada must meet a defence spending target of 5 percent of GDP

Canada should adopt a hybrid approach, mixing older defence technologies with new innovative tools

Using Canada’s own defence production capabilities will strengthen its sovereignty

This is astounding to observers of Canadian security policy. A more ambitious combat posture presents challenges, but the new consensus also creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity—not just to spend more but spend smarter.

Canada has a long history of arriving late to major procurement decisions. From Sea King helicopters to naval support ships, projects have been cancelled, relaunched, and renegotiated so many times decades can pass before new equipment enters service. That approach belongs to another era. The war in Ukraine largely........

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