Canada to increase defence spending to NATO’s 2 percent target

Canada is beefing up its armed forces.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the country will hit NATO’s two percent of GDP spending target this year, five years ahead of schedule.

The PM says we look to the United States too much.

“We will change the way we arm the men and women who serve, so we can fight on new battlegrounds in unfamiliar territory, so we can defend every inch of our sovereign territory, from the sea floor to the arctic to cyberspace,” said Carney.

He adds in an increasingly dangerous world, Canada will be ready to protect is people and allies.

Carney says our military infrastructure has aged, hindering our preparedness.

“Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half our Maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. We are too reliant on our neighbours to the south.”

Carney had pledged during the election to hit the target by 2030.

The country promised to hit NATO’s spending target in 2014, but has failed to do so.