Poilievre Questions Commitment to NATO 2% Guideline: ‘Our Country is Financially Strained’

July 12, 2024 TruthUSA

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has refrained from endorsing Canada’s new commitment to meet NATO’s defense spending guideline, citing the country’s financial state as the reason for his hesitation.

“I always say what I mean and mean what I say. I make promises that I can keep,” Mr. Poilievre stated at a July 12 press conference in Montreal. “Our country is in financial trouble after nine years of Trudeau.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on July 11 that Canada would meet NATO’s guideline of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense by 2032. This commitment was made during a press conference on the final day of the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Trudeau had faced criticism on this issue earlier in the week from top Republicans in the U.S. Congress, and NATO stressed the importance of all countries meeting the spending requirement.

Referring to the increased federal debt and high inflation in recent years, Mr. Poilievre, whose Conservative Party is polling significantly higher than the governing Liberals ahead of the 2025 election, stated that he would inherit a “dumpster fire of a budget” if he becomes prime minister.

He emphasized that he would not make financial commitments without careful consideration.

“I’m going to ensure that I’ve thoroughly calculated all the financial aspects, because people are tired of politicians making spending promises without a clear plan for funding,” he remarked.

The Conservative leader outlined that his military funding strategy would involve reducing foreign aid to oppressive regimes, terrorists, and bureaucratic organizations, as well as tackling bureaucratic inefficiencies and procurement issues.

“I intend to replace the current ‘woke’ culture with a more robust ‘warrior’ culture to boost recruitment efforts,” he added.

In March, Defense Minister Bill Blair described the personnel shortage in the military as a “death spiral,” suggesting that a cultural shift in the armed forces could help increase recruitment. Mr. Blair noted that the military is currently short by almost 16,000 troops.

‘Crass Calculation’

Mr. Trudeau faced questions from reporters on July 11 regarding the 2 percent commitment, including specifics on planned spending and the timing of the announcement.

Ottawa released an updated defense policy in April with a goal to reach defense spending of 1.76 percent of GDP by 2029.

“We presented an updated defense policy that was not centered on addressing media inquiries or seeking political gains,” the prime minister stated. “It was focused on doing what is necessary and responsible.”

He highlighted recent decisions, such as the procurement of 12 new submarines announced during the summit, as steps that would aid Canada in meeting the 2 percent spending target.

Mr. Trudeau downplayed the significance of NATO’s spending guideline, emphasizing that Canada has been actively contributing and exceeding expectations.

“This isn’t always reflected in a simple mathematical calculation that some people rely on so quickly, which is why we have always questioned the 2 percent target as the sole measure of NATO contributions,” he explained.

During the NATO Summit, Mr. Trudeau pledged an additional $500 million in support for Ukraine, coinciding with the organization’s 75th anniversary.

NATO projects that Canada will spend 1.37 percent of GDP on defense in 2024, making it one of eight countries in the alliance not meeting the guideline.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), using different methodologies, stated in a report published on July 8 that Canada is actually spending 1.29 percent. The PBO also projected Canada reaching 1.42 percent by 2029, instead of the 1.76 percent projected by the Department of National Defence.

“Past experiences, along with multiple PBO reports, suggest a high likelihood of delays and unspent appropriations,” the report concluded.

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