NDP reacts to Carney’s defence announcement

OTTAWA – On Monday, NDP critic for Arctic Sovereignty and Security Lori Idlout (Nunavut) and NDP critic for Defence and for Foreign Affairs Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona) reacted to the government’s defence announcement.

New Democrats raised the lack of consultation with Arctic communities and Inuit in the Liberals’ plan, while it relies heavily on their region. Protecting Canada’s Arctic means first and foremost making investments in Inuit, Arctic and territorial communities – and decisions about Canada’s Arctic need to be made through cooperation, meaningful consultation and consent.

“When Canada makes plans for Arctic defence and security without meaningfully including Inuit—who possess traditional knowledge of the land dating back to time immemorial—we end up with rifles that don't work in the cold and incomplete projects like Nanisivik in Nunavut,” said Idlout. “True Arctic sovereignty requires investment in Northern communities and Northerners. That means better schools, adequate housing, reliable power, and improved health care. Prioritizing military spending while ignoring the basic needs of Nunavummiut and other Northerners is unacceptable and ultimately weakens Canada’s defence.”

New Democrats are also concerned that this year’s $9 billion funding increase in defence will come at the expense of other programs and services that Canadians rely on. Just last week, the Parliamentary Budget Officer warned that Carney’s spending promises would require “significant cuts” to the public service.

“This government is boosting defence spending while cutting Global Affairs' development, peace, and security programs by 11.3 per cent since last year,” said McPherson. “Peacekeeping is at a historic low—defence increases should be matched with more support for development, human rights, and peacebuilding.”

New Democrats have always advocated for a broader understanding of security – one that includes human security, environmental security, and economic security. Today’s announcement had no mention of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, arms control, and disarmament.

“This plan fails to address key global security threats like climate change, democratic backsliding, and human rights abuses,” said McPherson. “Canada must fix its legal and moral failures—like arms exports to rights-abusing regimes—before ramping up defence production.”

While New Democrats welcome key commitments in today’s defence announcement—such as support for CAF personnel, investment in the Junior Rangers, and a focus on Canadian workers—we remain seriously concerned about what the Liberals have overlooked.