Despite Canada's commitment to boosting its defence spending by $8.1 billion over the next five years, Defence Minister Bill Blair acknowledged the country will still fall short of NATO's spending target of 2% of GDP by an estimated $6 billion to $7 billion. The increase will elevate Canada's defence investment from 1.33% to 1.76% of GDP, as outlined in the federal government's new national defence strategy. This shortfall exists even as Canada aims to fulfill the 2% spending commitment, a goal reinforced by both the Conservative and Liberal governments. Future defence investments could potentially bridge this gap, according to Blair, who also highlighted the challenge of replenishing the Armed Forces' ranks, currently short by 16,500 members. With plans to reach authorized strength levels by 2032, the recruitment strategy includes fast-tracking new members and enhancing security clearance processes. However, the pace of recruitment and the timeline for achieving full strength have sparked criticism, underscoring the need for a more urgent and innovative approach to address these critical challenges.
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