OTTAWA — Defence Minister David McGuinty told a defence industry trade show this morning Ottawa will take “immediate and decisive action” to rebuild Canada’s military.
His statement comes just a day after the Liberal government signalled in its throne speech, read by King Charles, that Canada plans to join ReArm Europe, a major European defence procurement pact, in the coming weeks.
In an interview with CBC News Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government wants to make that happen by Canada Day.
McGuinty said joining the plan will diversify Canada’s defence partnerships and give it access to new opportunities in Europe’s $1.25 trillion defence marketplace.
In a state-of-the-union style speech to industry representatives at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa, McGuinty said Canada plans to triple its military spending from 2014 levels by the end of the decade.
But he refused to answer any questions from reporters and ducked out through a back door — leaving the spotlight entirely to the prime minister on this major shift in defence policy.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
