This is The Week in Polling, your Saturday dose of interesting numbers from top pollsters in Canada and around the world, curated by The Hub. Here’s what we’re looking at this week.
Over 60 percent of Canadians believe the federal government lacks pride in the military
Source: Leger
The majority of Canadians believe the Government of Canada does not take enough pride in the country’s military.
Canada’s military is ranked 27 out of the 145 state militaries considered for the annual Global Firepower review. Canada holds a Power Index score of 0.3813; a score of 0.0000 is considered the best in the GFP assessment.
According to data journalist Kiernan Green’s analysis for The Hub, the federal government has spent below its own projections on military equipment and national defence each year since 2016, while half of Canadian military vehicles are unfit for deployment.
Canada has yet to meet its NATO commitment to spend 2 percent of GDP on the military but claims it will by 2032. According to a report done by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, military spending would need to reach $81.9 billion by the 2032-33 fiscal year, which is almost double the projected $41 billion in spending for 2024-25.
Part of the government’s plan to meet the 2 percent requirement is to expand Canada’s submarine fleet, acquire vehicles that can traverse snow and ice, and modernize the military’s artillery capabilities.
