Canadians have never been more gung-ho about defence spending.

According to a recent EKOS poll, 72 per cent of respondents supported the Carney government’s plan to meet the NATO target of spending the equivalent of five per cent of the country’s annual GDP on defence by 2035. That compares to 36 per cent less than a year ago in a separate Angus Reid poll.

If these targets were met today, defence spending would nearly triple. Pure defence spending would be roughly double the value of the federal health transfer.

Such a rapid change in public opinion should come as no surprise, given that the global security context continues to deteriorate and that U.S. President Donald Trump continues to fantasize about Canada becoming the 51st state.

However, what little discussion there has been regarding defence spending has been one-sided. There has been virtually no public pushback against Canada’s commitment to NATO’s astronomically high target and no robust debate about how to get there by 2035.

It’s becoming clear as announcements trickle out that beyond shoring up sovereignty, the development of a domestic industry of arms manufacturing and military technology will be equally as important as industrial and labour policy.

However, Canadians should be cautious about marrying economic priorities with security priorities.

Instead of simply tying defence spending priorities to a percentage of GDP, Ottawa should clearly define and communicate strategic objectives, such as streamlining procurement, modernizing existing infrastructure and investing in dual-use technology and infrastructure.

 Strong regulations needed

The inevitable result of increased defence spending will be the planned development of a military-industrial complex and likely an entrenched private economic incentive to increase Canada’s market for arms, which would make supporting international conflict more politically viable, particularly if MPs have defence contractors in their........

© IRPP - Policy Options