Prime Minister Mark Carney announced this week Canada will reach the NATO defence spending target of 2% of GDP this fiscal year, marking the first time since 1990 the country has hit this milestone. The move will cost roughly $20 billion more.
New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows Canadians largely back the plan to spend 2% of GDP on defence. About half (51%) say Canada should spend to this level, while 17% support spending even more — a figure that has doubled since March 2024 amid rising concerns over U.S. reliability.
