Canada is under pressure to meet its NATO defence spending target by the end of the fiscal year 鈥� and doing so could help reshape the country鈥檚 economy, military, and role on the world stage.
According to Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) and MP for 91大黄鸭, the federal government is 鈥済oing to get it done.鈥�
鈥淢y immediate concern is getting us to two per cent (of GDP) by the end of the fiscal year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big responsibility I have on my plate. We鈥檝e mapped it all out, and we know what to do.鈥�
On June 9, the federal government announced that . The investment for 2025-26 will be over $9 billion.
Fuhr recently returned from a high-level delegation trip to Brussels with the Prime Minister and the Ministers of National Defence and Foreign Affairs. During the visit, Canada signed a new defence and security agreement with the European Union and took part in NATO meetings.
Fuhr said spent on defence by 2035.
He explained that the goal includes two parts: 3.5 per cent in traditional military spending, and 1.5 per cent in areas like infrastructure and economic development related to defence 鈥� areas that Canada plans to leverage.
鈥淧art of that defence and security agreement had a portion of it where Canada and the EU would work together on stockpiling critical minerals, and we have an abundance of that. The problem is we just don鈥檛 have access to it. So if the Canadian government builds out that access, that鈥檒l employ Canadians, and it will more than likely create revenue for the Government of Canada.鈥�
The spending on critical minerals and energy infrastructure would count toward Canada鈥檚 defence contribution.
鈥淲e鈥檙e building out the Canadian economy in a way in which it hadn鈥檛 been built out before,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he rest of it (3.5 per cent), we鈥檒l look in 2029 to see if the capabilities NATO is asking us for are being met with the spend, and we鈥檒l evaluate it then.鈥�
Fuhr noted government has already made significant investment.
鈥淭he previous Liberal government had doubled defence spending since 2015,鈥� he pointed out. 鈥淲hen (Stephen) Harper went out, the defence spending was below one per cent GDP. I think right now it鈥檚 around 1.45 percent.鈥�
Canada, he said, is being recognized as a reliable partner 鈥� and potentially a leader.
鈥淚 would look at it as a re-emerging middle power. The United States seems to want to pull back, and I think it鈥檚 creating a bit of a vacuum 鈥� and other middle powers are looking for leadership. And I think Canada can fill that space.鈥�
Fuhr also touched on Canada鈥檚 evolving relationship with the U.S.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always going to have a relationship with the United States鈥攂ut it鈥檚 going to be a different relationship. I think the PM was pretty clear about that. We鈥檒l work with the U.S. where we can and we鈥檒l go our own way where we have to. And we have lots of friends.鈥�
That, he said, is backed by the optimism and goodwill he experienced in Europe.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 express how positive it was to come out of that with just such overwhelming sentiment towards Canada from our European friends. We were treated well and respected. Everybody there was really looking forward to working with Canada.鈥�
Fuhr, a retired Air Force officer, acknowledged that one of the biggest obstacles to military readiness is personnel.
鈥淲e need to get our numbers up鈥攖hat鈥檚 a big part of moving forward,鈥� he noted. 鈥淲e need about, I think it鈥檚13,000 more folks to bolster our numbers up to where we want to be.鈥�
Despite the shortfall, he said Canada continues to be a highly respected military partner.
鈥淐anada is still very, very respected. We bring good capability to the relationships that we have. If there鈥檚 a coalition of people out there, the team wants Canada to be there. That hasn鈥檛 changed.鈥�
Fuhr sees Canada at a crossroads.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 at a point now, and Canada has an opportunity, where we can start to fill a leadership role in the world where the States have just decided they want to step back. So I think that鈥檚 very positive for us.鈥�