Carney’s defense strategy is a plan to bloat the bureaucracy

Canada’s defense industry got a $6.6 billion boost Tuesday, as Prime Minister Mark Carney formally unveiled Ottawa’s new Defense Industrial Strategy. The plan promises to create 125,000 new jobs over 10 years and award 70 per cent of defense contracts to Canadian companies, through a “Build-Partner-Buy” framework that prioritizes domestic industry. It is part of the government’s plan to increase Canadian military spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035, in line with NATO targets. 

First, the plaudits. It’s nice to see the federal government finally taking defense seriously. The Canadian military is long overdue for an overhaul, and in our new tariff-mad world, finding another use for domestic steel production and displaced workers is a great idea. But before businesses start beating ploughshares into swords, they should look at the strategy’s fine print – or lack thereof.  Read more here.