Liberal Leader Mark Carney has said a Liberal government would overhaul Canada’s military, pledging an “unprecedented acceleration of investment” in the Canadian Armed Forces.
On March 25, Carney unveiled the party’s defence strategy in a campaign speech in Halifax. In a press release shared shortly following the speech, Carney promised to hit the NATO spending target by 2030, better equip Arctic forces and create a new Canadian drone capability — all while prioritizing domestic procurement.
“Now more than ever, we need to secure Canadian sovereignty by strengthening our military,” Carney told reporters in Halifax.
“We’re going to prioritize investments here in Canada, and every dollar we spend is going to be spent wisely and effectively — and help us build our capabilities to get to our two per cent NATO target by 2030 at the latest.
“But our first priority will be on value for money to protect Canadians.”
Christian Leuprecht, a professor at Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada, says the dual commitments to boosting military capacity and revisiting procurement plans are not compatible.
“ The prime minister has basically made two completely contradictory announcements within a matter of days,” said Leuprecht, who is also a senior fellow in security and defence at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute think tank.
“ I find it kind of curious that a prime minister campaigning on the one hand is announcing, ‘Here’s all the things I’m gonna do for defence,’ and on the other hand, this is days after he says, ‘We’re going to review the F-35 purchase.’ Which is it? Are we actually committed or are we not?”
Northern pivot
Speaking to reporters, Carney pledged to expand Canada’s Arctic capabilities by acquiring new submarines and heavy icebreakers, but did not specify the quantity or type.
Carney also said the CAF would establish a greater year-round presence in the north, and would partner with Australia to develop Over-the-Horizon Radar capabilities to bolster its Arctic early-warning systems.
The press release did not offer details on timelines or costs associated with its proposed investments.
To support Canadian industry, Carney proposed tying defence procurement to domestic manufacturing, requiring defence contractors to use Canadian steel and aluminum. He also promised to modernize procurement rules to allow the military to acquire urgently needed equipment faster.
Leuprecht says Canada is currently involved in producing some of the most advanced weapons systems in the world. But it lacks the industrial capacity to effectively arm itself without the support of allies.
“We already build the best drone cameras in the world: L3Harris Wescam,” says Leuprecht, referencing the imaging systems firm based in Hamilton, Ont. “Nobody can compete, not even close.”
Still, Leuprecht notes that producing complete weapons systems entirely within Canada can be prohibitively expensive. “ You have to work with allies to generate them,” he said.
Recruitment
Carney’s announcement acknowledges the CAF’s significant personnel shortage. He pledged to address a shortfall of 14,500 service members by modernizing the recruitment process and offering new incentives to join the military. These include better base housing, increased pay, improved child care and expanded access to medical and mental health services.
The Canadian Armed Forces already announced changes to its recruitment and retention strategy in February. The CAF expects these changes to grow the regular, non-reserve force to 71,500 personnel by 2032, up from about 65,000 today.
Carney’s plan further promises a new mandate for the Canadian Coast Guard. Carney says this organization needs to align its surveillance role with NATO defence objectives to better protect Canada’s maritime borders and combat drug trafficking.
On the air front, the Liberals pledged to boost Canada’s drone capabilities and to partner with allies to procure the “next generation of aircraft.”
Canada’s procurement of the American-made F-35, a fifth-generation fighter, has been a long-debated issue. In 2023, Ottawa committed to buy 88 jets from Lockheed Martin for $19 billion to replace its aging, fourth-generation CF-18 fleet.
Upon his swearing in as prime minister, Carney signaled a willingness to re-evaluate this contract. He directed Defence Minister Bill Blair to assess whether the deal aligns with Canada’s current needs, citing a shifting geopolitical landscape.
Tories push back
The Conservatives say Carney’s announcement lacks credibility, coming after years of the party having neglected defence.
“This is not a change,” said James Bezan, the Conservative’s defence critic, in a press release released shortly after Carney’s speech. “This is more of the same promises with no plan and no action.”
The federal government previously announced in July 2024 that it had begun a process to acquire up to 12 conventionally powered submarines, Bezan said in the press release.
“[B]ut today Carney wouldn’t commit to a number,” said Bezan. “They’ve announced more heavy icebreakers, but cannot announce a number, a cost, or who will build them. They say they will give the Canadian Armed Forces a raise, but they’ve been in charge for the lost Liberal decade as military morale and recruitment plummeted.”
Leuprecht, likewise, says it is difficult to reconcile the prime minister’s statements with the party’s record on defence.
“This is the problem with the Liberals,” said Leuprecht. “Depending on what time of day it is and whether the sun’s shining or not, they’ll tell you one thing or they’ll tell you the other. And that’s precisely what costs us … This has massive reputational costs and damage with our allies.”
Editor’s Note: Canadian Affairs will be publishing a comprehensive piece on the parties’ defence platforms as further information becomes available.
It great that they plan to grow the forces by 14,500 but where are you going to put them, the housing shortage is massive. I have driven through several bases. Empty lots, and not just a few. Hundreds of houses were demolished instead of upgraded, dozens sit empty because there is no one to upgrade them. Our forces are going poor trying to find places to live. This is why they are leaving in droves. The forces need to build at least 200 houses immediately on most bases and several apartment buildings for new recruits. Until there are places to live no one’s going to want to join or stay.
Hey Joe,
Thanks for reading the piece, and for your thoughts. I have heard similar concerns about the CAF’s chronic underinvestment. It is a troubling development. Hopefully new funding commitments are able to deliver the infrastructure we need to support our troops in the coming years.
I think we all recognize that this upcoming election is out of the ordinary. To write criticisms of Mark Carney, who is Thankfully not a politician, and given what he has done in the role of Prime Minister, in such a short time, is misplaced. The question for the voters is who can deal with Trump. Mr Carney will demand respect and Pierre will not, especially being supported by Danielle Smith, who we need to Thank, for posting her thoughts on PP’s expected role, if he becomes PM.
I believe that we need to procure our jets and other military equipment from allies, where they cannot be manufactured in Canada. President Trump has made us acutely aware that the U.S. is no longer an ally. Why in the world would we purchase anything from them, must especially our defence equipment? What happens when they need parts? Is a country we may need to go to war against, going to provide parts? Out of the question. I also agree that Mark Carney is the candidate who can best deal with Trump. Pee Pee sounds too much like Trump.