Carney Pledges Military Pay Raise and Defense Investments
During a speech at Halifax’s Irving Shipyard, Liberal Leader Mark Carney unveiled his party’s defense policy while addressing a crowd of workers wearing hard hats and orange vests.
The plan focuses on strengthening domestic production of military equipment, particularly new drone-operated aerial and marine vehicles. These advanced systems will play a crucial role in securing Canada’s northern territories and monitoring Arctic waters.
“Our adversaries are becoming increasingly bold, and the long-standing international norms that have kept Canada and the world safe are now at risk,” Carney stated, speaking before hundreds of workers. “The United States, whose priorities were once closely aligned with ours, has shifted its focus. As a result, our sovereignty is now under threat.”
A key aspect of the platform is increasing the salaries of military personnel to address the ongoing recruitment shortfall. The Canadian Armed Forces currently faces a shortage of approximately 14,500 soldiers.
Carney has also committed to meeting NATO’s defense spending target of two percent of GDP by 2030.
Key Liberal Commitments:
- Strengthen the Navy by adding new submarines and more heavy icebreakers.
- Raise military salaries while investing in on-base housing, improved access to medical care, mental health support, and childcare.
- Develop a cutting-edge drone fleet to deploy uncrewed air and sea vehicles for border security and allied defense.
- Ensure that Canadian troops protecting the homeland have the same advanced equipment as those deployed overseas.
