Canada’s defence spending questioned at NATO parliamentary meeting
HALIFAX — The deputy minister of national defence has told a NATO meeting in Halifax that Canada is satisfied it is spending what it requires to meet its alliance and other military commitments.
Jody Thomas held fast to the government’s stance on defence spending on Saturday, despite some pointed questioning about Canada’s commitment following her presentation before NATO’s defence and security committee, part of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Halifax.
U.S. Republican congressman Michael Turner, the committee’s acting chairman, asked whether Canada intends to table a plan for meeting the two per cent of GDP standard for defence spending that was agreed to by alliance members at a summit in Wales in 2014.
“Many of the nations that are here are either meeting their two per cent or have in place a plan to reach the two per cent,” said Turner. “Canada is one of those countries who has not yet put forward a commitment to reach the two per cent although that is a commitment that Canada joined in making at Wales.”