Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s immense military expansion, and the second Trump Administration, it would have been understandable – though still naive – to think Canada could continue underfunding our military.
With U.S. protection ‘assured,’ and with seemingly little prospect of a large-scale war, addressing the decades-long neglect of the Canadian Armed Forces was of little priority, and people could make a decent argument for opposing rearmament (though again, that argument still would have been incorrect given the need for a nation to be prepared for war even in times of peace).
Now however, with the stakes higher than ever and threats to Canada multiplying on what seems like a daily basis, we must aggressively counter those who constantly oppose strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces.
While public support for rearmament is surging, there are often people who respond to such calls online with a mix of either the usual claim that anyone who supports the military is a ‘warmonger,’ or with an argument centred around claims that a Canadian military expansion is somehow ‘impossible’.
Those claims are addressed and countered below:
“Canada has no money”
Claims that Canada has no money or that we can’t afford to expand our military are simply false. Canada has one of the world’s best national credit ratings, at either AAA or AA+ depending on which rating agency you look at. If necessary, Canada can afford to borrow significant sums of money to finance a military buildup. Further, restraint in overall non-military federal spending would create significant room to raise military investment. There is no financial barrier to Canadian rearmament.
“Canada can’t buy weapons & equipment”
Canada’s procurement problems are well known, but that doesn’t mean we ‘can’t’ buy equipment. Rather, our country has chosen not to adequately address the procurement system, and we have chosen to underinvest in the military. Choosing not to address a problem is not the same as a problem being unaddressable.
Procurement reform is possible, and the federal government is planning to set up a stand-alone defence procurement agency (this echoes a promise made by the government six years ago, and thus must be closely monitored for efficacy). Procurement is simply a system, and systems can be changed when the will to change them exists. Further, the government can – through the Defence Production Act – bypass the procurement process and purchase equipment directly. This is a measure that can be used in emergencies, and thus provides a lever for rapid procurement.
“Nobody wants to join the CAF”
While Canada has fallen behind recruiting targets, this should not be confused with people not wanting to join the CAF. Instead, as I noted in a previous article, the military has struggled to adequately turn prospective recruits into recruits.
“In the last year for which data is available, 70,000 people wanted to sign up.
Despite this significant interest, fewer than 5,000 were recruited.
Here’s how Scott Taylor of Esprit de Corps explained it:
“General Carignan explained that attracting civilians into recruiting centres is not the problem. Last year over 70,000 Canadians signed applications to join the CAF. However, due to bureaucratic red tape and lengthy security clearances fewer than 5,000 applicants were actually recruited. As the personnel shortfall crisis deepens, the CAF have made changes to that system. General Carignan says that in this fiscal year the CAF is on target to recruit and train 6,400 personnel. This she explained will keep pace with the number of personnel expected to retire or release within that same timeframe. In other words, the current projection is to simply stop the hemmoraging without actually pumping in any fresh blood to flesh out the ranks to full strength.”
Since I wrote about this – early January of 2025 – there have been some positive developments. In particular, the narrative around Canadian values and Canadian history has shifted, with the government taking a more patriotic stance, and with Canadians rallying behind our sovereignty and national symbols. That alone could benefit recruiting numbers, and sustained military investment will do so as well.
The issue is by no means solved, but positive steps can be acknowledged.
“Canada has no enemies”
Some appear to believe Canada has no enemies, and thus doesn’t need a military. That is extremely naive. Russia views Canada with hostility for both ideological reasons (Canada proudly stands with Ukraine and is part of an alliance of democracies that opposes ruthless Russian expansionism), and for strategic reasons, with Russia wanting to dominate the Arctic. Even amid immense manpower and equipment losses in Ukraine, Russia continues to expand its footprint in the Arctic, and it would be naive to assume that open warfare in the North is an impossibility.
China is also seeking to expand its influence in the Arctic (referring to itself as a “near Arctic state”), and is currently undertaking the largest military buildup since the Second World War. It would be foolish to think China is building all those weapons for no reason whatsoever. If a conflict erupts in Asia – particularly if that conflict centres around Taiwan – Canada and our allies will be called upon to act. And if China’s massive shipbuilding empire continues to grow without a counter expansion in free nations, our ability to ensure the protection of commerce on the world’s oceans would be imperiled.
“The US will protect Canada”
This one should be obvious. The current U.S. President has repeatedly questioned Canadian sovereignty, said our border is fake, thinks we should become a U.S. State, and has threatened to withhold U.S. military protection.
While the prospect of a U.S. invasion is low, it would be unwise to assume the U.S. would defend us in the case of a conflict with another nation. The current U.S. administration seems – at times – more ideologically attuned with Russia than with America’s democratic allies, so why would we bank on America defending us if we ever found our territory breached by Russia?
As for the ‘warmonger’ claim, it is clearly an effort by hostile anti-Canadian propagandists to demoralize our Citizens and dissuade us from ensuring our sovereignty. It is not ‘warmongering’ to believe Canada should survive in a dangerous world.
Canada is a beautiful nation, a nation worth preserving, defending, and strengthening. To do so, we need a much more powerful military. Now, you are armed with ways to combat the false claims by those who oppose protecting the country.
Spencer Fernando
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