By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Canada will spend a massive CAN$73 billion (US$53.7 billion) over the next 20 years to beef up its military, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday.
CAN$8 billion ($6 billion) is targeted for the next five years, bringing the country’s military spending to 1.76% of Gross Domestic Product, still short of the NATO alliance defense spending goal of 2% agreed to by members.
Speaking at a press conference at Canadian Forces Base Trenton – the country’s largest air base – Trudeau, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Defense Bill Blair laid out the military spending plan entitled “Our North, Strong and Free.”
“The world has changed,” Blair said. “We need to invest more in our national defense,” Blair said.
One of the key targets is spending to protect the Canadian Arctic, where Russia and China have made incursions.
To protect the Arctic territory, Canada will invest in a new squadron of early warning aircraft, which will boost the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Together with the US, NORAD is charged with the air defense of North America. Trudeau said the Arctic has particular importance.
“Climate change (melting ice cap) is rapidly reshaping Canada and reshaping our North,” Trudeau said. “The Northwest Passage (through the Arctic Ocean) could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and Asia by 2050.
The spending also will result in more submarines. In answer to the question from a reporter, Trudeau left the door open for them to be nuclear submarines, although the prime minister said no decision has been made as yet.
Money will also go toward a campaign designed to boost recruitment that has languished for the past number of years. Currently, there are 16,000 positions unfilled in the armed forces.
“We need to attract and retain people from right across Canada,” Blair said.
Initiatives include better access to healthcare and childcare and more housing for married personnel.