The finance minister’s office is refusing to release data to back up recent claims by Prime Minister Mark Carney that Canada will substantially accelerate its defence spending.
“Our fiscal framework has already provisioned to achieve four per cent of GDP in total defence spending by the end of this decade, ahead of NATO’s timetable,” Carney told the CANSEC Defence conference in Ottawa in May, a claim he later repeated at a press conference in June.
After those comments, Global News asked Finance Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne’s office for any data from Budget 2025 or the Spring Economic Statement to support the prime minister’s statements, but the office refused to do so.
A spokesperson for Champagne told Global News they were “not in a position to scoop forthcoming announcements,” and they would not provide any additional details beyond what the prime minister said.
Carney committed Canada to NATO’s new target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035 at last year’s NATO Summit in the Netherlands.
That spending is split into two categories: 3.5 per cent on traditional or “core” defence spending and 1.5 per cent on critical defence infrastructure, like ports and roads that have dual military use.
Carney claimed at the CANSEC Defence conference that Canada was already meeting the 1.5 per cent infrastructure threshold, something the finance minister’s office would also not provide data to support.
Former associate deputy finance minister Don Drummond, now a public policy professor at Queen’s University, told Global News the lack of transparency is the worst he has seen in his 49 years as an economist.
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“They’re very good at waving their hands. They wave them very, very vigorously. It’s hard to keep track of what they’re saying,” Drummond said.
“I’ve never seen a case of less transparency over a budget thing, and it seems to be pretty simple. Just show us the number.”
Global News first asked the Prime Minister’s Office, finance minister’s office, and Department of Finance officials after the Spring Economic Statement was tabled in April to provide details on future defence spending plans, but none were given.
The only information provided at that time was that Canada spent $63 billion on defence in the 2025–26 fiscal year, enough to meet NATO’s previous spending target of two per cent of GDP that was committed to in 2014.
A Global News analysis of the Spring Economic Statement estimates Canada will need to spend a total of $163 billion on an annual basis to meet Carney’s commitment of four per cent of GDP by 2030.
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Compared to the 2025 budget, Ottawa would be required to spend an additional $34.9 billion annually on core defence spending to hit the 2030 target, which is more than the federal government has budgeted for the Canada Child Benefit in any of the next five years.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer has also asked the Department of Defence for additional details about defence spending, but has yet to receive a response.
Three letters posted to the PBO’s website show requests to the Liberal government for that information, including on NATO targets, but the PBO website indicates that they have yet to receive it.
The PBO estimated in February that increasing core defence spending from two per cent of GDP to 3.5 per cent would require approximately $33.5 billion per year in additional cash expenditures over the next 10 years. The report said the additional spending will increase the budgetary deficit by $63.0 billion by the 2035-36 fiscal year.
Former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page has previously told Global News that making defence spending a major priority, but not sharing the details, is a “failure” in transparency from the Liberals.
U.S. defence officials and Canadian military policy experts have also criticized the federal government for a lack of clarity around its defence spending plans, which a Pentagon official claimed are not “credible.”
At the time those criticisms were raised in May, a spokesperson for Defence Minister David McGuinty’s office responded by laying out a list of previous spending announcements, adding Canada would spend more than $82 billion over five years in Canadian Armed Forces capabilities.
Carney will travel to Ankara, Turkey, on Monday for the annual NATO leaders’ conference, before heading to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Only someone up to no good and seeking trouble would even ask at this point! Please lets refrain from causing trouble and promote peace within our own borders.
Just more creative accounting by carney and his minions.
They’ve been lying to Canadians about their spending for the past 11 years. Why would they change now?
Is it any suprise, look at Trudeau and his many trips on the tax payers to Aga Khan’s Island and said it was a gift and wouldn’t disclose any info, is Carney any better hiding NATO disclosure.
I hope Putin starts a war on the west coast, cause Trump will say Carney not my problem cause Canada will lose the west coast to Russia.
Going to raid the cpp funds,you read it here.
Carney does not want to show us how much money he is wasting on submarines and F-35’s. He does not want to show us how much Canadian money is flowing to the US for US arms. He does not want to compare how much he is spending to placate Trump.
We want to compare his spending to what he should have spent on a pipeline to the northern BC coast. – How much he is giving to the natives.
I’m glad the Liberal government is increasing future defense spending. Not sure what the bother is about releasing future figures-the Harper government never did it. They are future spending plans that may change.
Carney and the Liberal f*scists can go to h”ll. The dirt and outright corruption and lack of respect for Canadians has become appalling. Only a fool would support these traitors and shallow pieces of dung.
Carney and his crew of ball suckers have done squat for this country! Except drive it apart and financially bankrupt it! They have driven Canada to third world status! NO ONE WANTS TO DEAL! All he has done is fly all over getting ‘strategic pacts’ and MOUs! All this regime has done is pad their pockets. GO TO H*LL LIBERALS!
Trump’s gonna take a dump down carnholes throat
Carnhole and his swallowers, you can’t fix stupid
Hey naysayers here’s a novel thought; spend a little more time writing the word “Canada” and less time accusing the present government of conspiracy, dishonesty, and all the other things you complain about. Just because you don’t get to read or hear about doesn’t mean it’s something sneaky. Get over it!
We do not need to see proof or evidence, as the “ just watch me” claim worked out so well! Maybe for him but not generations of Canadians. Still responsibly accountability go both ways, up and down. Your boss tells you to do something illegal and you do it, you should be charged and at your debt. Same as soldiers, cops , politicians!
Ben. We know you deflect for Carney. You are a Lib bootlicker.
Pretty sure Ben took the little yellow school bus as a child.
I have a lot of empty space between my ears but mummy told me that’s normal for a Liberal supporter.
@corporate accountant. Very professional calling people bootlicker. Corporations don’t provide detailed future figures for a multitude of reasons, and I don’t need to be an accountant to know that. The government has legitimate security and foreign relations reasons for withholding future predictions of defense spending.
Ben. The details don’t need to be revealed. Just Carneys statement is corroborated. These types of audits happen all the time Bootlicker.
Yes, let’s reveal the detailed figures so Trump can attack us because we haven’t spent enough on armaments made in the US. What an inane idea!
Ben. The AG of Canada can review and corroborate Carneys claims with out giving away sensitive information. Corruption can only be hidden for so long.
It’s outrageous that the right wing media wants the government to reveal monetary figures that would reveal our defense plans to our enemies!
The liberal “trust us bro” approach is going to ruin Canada for future generations…
New day New lie
“We are a majority Liberal government” snarled the government worker. “We do not have to prove any of our claims and announcements to you lowly peasants”.
Carney claims should be able to be verified thru DnD and an audit by the AG of Canada where sensitive documents can be protected from getting outside into the wrong hands No excuse for Carney to provide with protections in place unless he is hiding something.
@JL. If there is corruption that isn’t “room to maneuver”. Is this Ben again under a different name?
@JL. You can provide the accounting without giving away the sensitive details , if any. Obviously Carney is hiding something and that need to be audited.
I don’t understand how unaware one has to be to demand certain sensitive information in the current geopolitical context. Revealing precise details about our military commitments or our budgetary room to manoeuvre can clearly harm Canada.
As journalists, do you not see the risks? Or is this simply a matter of principle, even if it means weakening the work of the prime minister, who is the one responsible for protecting the country?
You don’t seem to take into account what’s happening across the border: the constant pressure from the United States, their insistence that we buy their technology, the implicit threats if we don’t remain militarily dependent on them.
In this context, the prime minister needs to have room to manoeuvre and keep his strategic cards close in order to defend Canada’s interests. This kind of reporting only undermines his work and weakens our position in the face of already heavy American influence.
@Bodhi Pierson
I suggest you go back and read my comment. I made a comparison of how the two are alike. Neither one will ever answer to their coruption. If we cant throw them out of office in the midst of it, red-handed, how the f*ck will they ever face it?
Transparency is something the Liberal’s can never honestly be accused of
We could be living in a garden planet if we weren’t so primitive and violent…imagine if all the monies spent on “defense” by all countries around the world was directed towards feeding and housing people…it always puzzles me how brilliant humans are at mathematics, science, medicine and technology, but how socially backwards we are…
Money laundering operations generally don’t keep clear and factual records to show.
@Ben. What is not true about the article on Carney. Please enlighten us.
@Down With.
Yes of course Trump also. But this article isn’t about Trump, but that fraud Carney. Each can answer to their own corruption.
Marla Hickory
July 4, 2026 at 8:34 am
This shows Carneys actual credibility. He makes outrageous claims as if they are fact. Then when reporters/officials ask for the data/proof, Carney can’t deliver them because his claims are false. Carney is against democracy and transparency.
Gee, just like the Orange Bigot down south.
And this is why Canada is broke. Corruption, dishonesty, no accountability, and hypocrisy. fascism at its best. The Liberals have done it well. Canada is hooped.
We are governed by liars and cheats. Men and women who only care for their careers and pensions, not Canada or Canadians.
Those of you who have elected these fools need to open your damned eyes and see what they are.
This shows Carneys actual credibility. He makes outrageous claims as if they are fact. Then when reporters/officals ask for the data/proof, Careny can’t deliver them because his claims are false. Carney is against democracy and transparency.
The federal government is recategorizing what was formerly not defence spending, as defence spending. That’s what this Liberal Party does: manipulate how spending is categorized, to make appearances, instead of changes. They do this with Capital Investment soending as well. They recategorize deficit spending as Capital Investment spending, to make appearances instead of changes. It’s just a shell game.
@Ben
Hey Ben why don’t you help out us Conservatives here and tell us what part of the the story isn’t true. So they HAVE announced the spending? Where can we read about it?
Remember Ben people who support the Conservatives aren’t as stupid as people who vote Liberal.
True believers Ben thinks the Supreme Leader Careny should be above any review or criticism. Who dare the Leader of the Opposition question anything the King of Canada says Like Lenin or the Ayatollah, no dissent is justified or should even be allowed. Do
As the King says as he rules absolutely.
Interesting now the Liberal supporters talk no about education and credentials. They didn’t mind blindly supporting someone who was a part time drama teacher /snowboarder at the same time trash talking Harper who did have an education. Talk about hypocrisy.
More anti Carney balderdash from the right wing media. Good grief.
Keep on blaming PP and the conservatives even though they haven’t been in power since 2015. I guess it makes you feel better.
Why does going to university give anyone credibility?
AND HOW MANY OF YOU WHINERS HERE VOTED LIBERAL ? NOW F/ OFF
Hi,I’m the anonymous Carney bootlicker that always posts here. The reason I always bring up Pierre Poilievre is because I know everyone here trashing Carney is right ,but I have no possible way to defend him.He hasn’t accomplished anything other than a bunch of cheap talk but this is how Liberals function. All words,no action.Its due to a complete lack of integrity ,being a Liberal myself I know this as fact from personal experience
Anyways I would like to thank all the hard working Conservatives for supporting me throughout my tragically failed life with their tax dollars. Sure I could get a job but living off the government handouts is much easier
@Anonymous. You bootlicking continues. How are the knee pads.
LOL @ Wayne”
A PP fan of a guy that has never even run a lemonade stand talking.
Hilarious.
Carney isn’t a leader just a fraud that is lining his pockets. Canada needs a leader that is taking care of the interests of Canada, not himself.
Carney misleading Canadians and our allies yet again. The king has no clothes and people are beginning to see Carney for what he really is, a fraud and a huckster, who may also be just another conniving Liberal politician like Trudeau.
Carneys nose is growing. What a total liar he is.
Shame shame shame
Retire people are living on basically nothing, unless they , they worked for government,
GST $ 23 per month 1 time payments
Thank you PM for that generous contribution towards Canadian
Ben will state not giving the documents is to protect national security and Carney is right to do so. Chief bootlicker Ben
No suprise as Liberals still haven’t made a decision on the F-35s or the Submarines. Both decisions are long overdue.
@Anonymous. Your deflection is sad. PP not a liar about military spending, unlike Carney. People with Education commit crimes also.
Why refuse if it is true? Pinocchio Carney is hiding the truth no doubt.
Big fucken surprise
Funny how all the l I b t a r d s on here are trying to deflect away from the truth more to cover up more liberal lies.
He just straight up lies to us, and the elbows up crowd doesn’t seem to care. I honestly don’t understand it.
He definitely has a silver tongue, I truly hope he backs up all the flowery speeches with action.
Who cares anyway?
After Iran, it’s obvious all we need to stop trump is three or four camels.
@Bill: hilarious how you talk about a guy that went through the best universities on earth while PP has never even had a paper boy job.
Did anyone honestly think the glorified used car salesman Aka Carney would actually be honest open and accountable like he promised ???
Whaaaaaaat? A liberal liar. Say it isn’t so. This goof and his band of commie left wing lying lunatics have to go. No accountability and doing what this group of liberals have been doing for years. Sweet FA.
Are we surprised in the slightest here? This current liberal party is the poster boy of dodging accountability (even for liberal standards).
That is no surprise at all given the LPCs history
They are afraid Canadians will realize they were lied to and that all the LPC did was some creative accounting