Canada’s ambitious pledge to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 marks a decisive shift in national priorities. This analysis by Emma Zhang examines whether the Carney government can strike a balance between defence spending and social welfare, and turn defence investment into sustainable economic growth.
NORAD began as a Cold War commitment between Canada and the United States to safeguard the skies and protect the North. Today. it has become a stage for Russia’s military expansion, China’s growing ambitions, and emerging threats that outdated systems can no longer reliably detect. The modernization of NORAD goes beyond new radar and missile defence technology, it reflects a broader commitment to protecting sovereignty and ensuring Canadians recognize that the Artic is no longer a remote frontier, it is the front line of our collective security and future.