Â鶹´«Ã½

Politics

    • U.S. ambassador to NATO accuses Canada of 'lack of commitment' to defence spending pledge

    Share

    Canada is the only NATO member without a plan or a timeline to reach the alliance’s target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence, according to the U.S. ambassador to NATO.

    Julianne Smith told CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday that she “absolutely†expects Canada to reach the spending goal, and that the lack of a plan or timeline to do so “lacks the commitment†allies want to see.

    NATO members signed on more than a decade ago to each spend at least two per cent of their GDP on defence.

    Last summer, at the alliance’s annual gathering, members increased that commitment to have the two per cent become a minimum requirement.

    And earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that of the alliance’s 31 members, 18 will reach or exceed the defence spending target this year. That’s up from 11 countries last year.

    “Over the last 10 years, we've moved from three countries meeting that target to 18, with more to come, and those that aren't meeting it right now have a plan to get there, except for Canada,†Smith said.

    “So we very much want our friends in Canada to keep moving towards the two per cent target,†she added. “But most importantly, we want them to lay out a plan to get there.â€

    Smith added it’s important to recognize that “collective security is not free,†and it requires everyone to “make tough choices.â€

    Smith’s comments echo those made by Stoltenberg on Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel’s Power Play earlier this week that the alliance expects Canada to lay out a timeline by which it will meet the defence spending target.

    "I expect Canada to deliver on the pledge to invest two per cent of GDP on defence, because this is a promise we all made,†Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

    “Canada is a big economy, (and) a member of the G7. Canada is the second largest country in the world with a vast coastline, so Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific,†he added. “So it really matters what Canada does."

    During a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to Stoltenberg’s comments, saying Canada will "continue to put forward our budgets and our proposals at the appropriate time."

    "We will continue to be there to step up with our NATO partners," he said, without specifying whether the federal government has a timeline in mind to meet the spending promise. “We will be there to continue to make sure that the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces have the equipment they need, and that our allies can count on us to continue to be there.â€

    When asked by Kapelos whether and why setting a date by which Canada plans to reach the two per cent target is important, Smith said a timeline “shows intent.â€

    “And it shows that the government has a real plan, and it shows a commitment to the pledge that we all made in 2014,†she said. “Every other member of the alliance has said we will meet it by 2024 or a few years later, but just saying in more broad terms that you're working towards it, I think lacks the commitment that we want to see on the part of our friends in Canada.â€

    The federal government, meanwhile, has pointed to fiscal constraints and a need to scale back spending in many areas in order to reduce the country’s deficit.

    When pressed on that argument, Smith said while she appreciates it “isn’t easy,†and she recognizes Canada recent spending announcements — including increasing funding for Norad, plans to purchase F-35 fighter jets, and an increased presence in Latvia — “inching just above 1.3 per cent is a long way from two per cent.â€

    “Every single member of this alliance has its own domestic politics,†Smith said. “It has its own history. It has its own complicated relationship between the finance minister and the defence minister. We all face unique challenges in this area of defence spending.â€

    “The world has become an increasingly dangerous place,†she also said. “So we'd like to see some intent. We'd like to see that planning to eventually get to two per cent.â€

    With files from CTV’s Question Period Senior Producer Stephanie Ha

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

    A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The calls are growing louder for city council to tighten the rules governing short-term accommodations, including those advertised on websites like Airbnb and Vrbo, after students arrived by the busload at a rented house in the Masonville neighbourhood.

    Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton are apparently distant relatives

    Genealogy and family tree tracking site Ancestry announced on Monday that by using “billions of historical records and public family trees,†they’ve discovered that the two music powerhouses are actually seventh cousins, once removed.

    B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has ordered WestJet to refund a family in full for their diverted flight and compensate them for associated costs.

    A man accused of driving his truck into a march for B.C. residential school survivors two years ago has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

    Canada

    • The calls are growing louder for city council to tighten the rules governing short-term accommodations, including those advertised on websites like Airbnb and Vrbo, after students arrived by the busload at a rented house in the Masonville neighbourhood.

    • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported this week that officers in the agency's Montreal Marine and Rail Services seized 78 vehicles and transferred them to police. Numbers of stolen vehicles in Quebec continue to skyrocket.

    • A man accused of driving his truck into a march for B.C. residential school survivors two years ago has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

    • On Sept. 20, Justice R.E. Nation of the Alberta Court of King's Bench found Craig McMorran guilty of fraud, money laundering and stealing a cottage from its rightful owners.

    • Public health officials in Prince Edward Island are investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness reported among 50 people who attended a shellfish festival over the weekend.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    • Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, season is just a few months away, but new vaccine options have already arrived for Ontario residents who may be vulnerable to the winter bug.

    • There are 'no restrictions' on the right to receive health services in Quebec for English speakers, according to a new clarification document issued by the Quebec Health Ministry on Monday.

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    • The Boston Red Sox kept their playoff hopes alive on Monday by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 in the first of a three-game road series.

    • The Toronto Raptors are planning to retire Vince Carter's jersey next month, sources tell TSN.

    Autos

    • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported this week that officers in the agency's Montreal Marine and Rail Services seized 78 vehicles and transferred them to police. Numbers of stolen vehicles in Quebec continue to skyrocket.

    Local Spotlight

    Giant gourds took over a Manitoba community this weekend.

    Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

    Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.

    A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

    A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

    Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

    Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

    An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

    They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

    • A man accused of driving his truck into a march for B.C. residential school survivors two years ago has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

    • BC Conservative leader John Rustad dropped a major policy plan Sunday, pledging to eliminate supervised drug consumption sites across B.C. and replace them with intake centres for treatment and recovery.

    • B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has ordered WestJet to refund a family in full for their diverted flight and compensate them for associated costs.

    • Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, season is just a few months away, but new vaccine options have already arrived for Ontario residents who may be vulnerable to the winter bug.

    • A rainfall warning is in effect for Toronto and many other regions across southern Ontario with Environment Canada calling for up to 50 millimetres of rainfall over a period of less than 24 hours.

    • One suspect is in custody and a second is still outstanding after Toronto police say cruisers were damaged while officers attempted to intervene in the theft of two luxury vehicles in an underground parking garage in the city’s downtown core.

    • BREAKING

      BREAKING

      A man is in critical condition following a shooting in the northeast Calgary community of Cityscape.

    • A former Lethbridge pastor who bilked millions out of hundreds of southern Albertans has appealed his conviction and sentence.

    • Stories We Have Earned: The Stoney Nakoda Film Project explores ÃŽyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation’s historic relationship with film and the exploitation of the Nation’s culture and customs for entertainment.

    • The Canada Revenue Agency has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, season is just a few months away, but new vaccine options have already arrived for Ontario residents who may be vulnerable to the winter bug.

    • The City of Ottawa says it is recruiting a 'nightlife council' to aid the city's recently appointed nightlife commissioner.

    • A fire in a container at one of the Port of Montreal's terminals prompted the city to issue a containment notice for the area adjacent to the port on Monday evening, in the Mercier--Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.

    • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported this week that officers in the agency's Montreal Marine and Rail Services seized 78 vehicles and transferred them to police. Numbers of stolen vehicles in Quebec continue to skyrocket.

    • Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating after a man was stabbed shortly before midnight in the St. Henri neighbourhood.

    • Police have charged a former worker with Edmonton Public Schools with forgery and fraud over $5,000 for allegedly faking asbestos reports over two years. And Jason McCallum is still at large.

    • Alberta is one of the few provinces without the ability to seize a vehicle traveling 50 km/h over the speed limit.

    • Public health officials in Prince Edward Island are investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness reported among 50 people who attended a shellfish festival over the weekend.

    • A man in his 60s was struck by an SUV and killed while walking on Wheeler Boulevard in Moncton, N.B., late Monday afternoon.

    • The Fredericton Police Force is warning people to stay away from part of the city due to bear sightings Tuesday morning.

    • It was a tragic ending to the search for a six-year-old boy in northeastern Manitoba who had been missing since Wednesday.

    • A 20-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a 52-year-old woman in an Assiniboine Avenue apartment on Sunday.

    • There are 14 MRIs in Manitoba, and now there's a renewed push to get another one that would go inside the new hospital being built in Portage la Prairie.

    • The Saskatchewan Government is fighting to have a Court of King's Bench decision reversed. A decision which would allow a constitutional challenge of its Parents' Bill of Rights.

    • Farmer are thinking about more than their crops this harvest. They're talking about the upcoming Saskatchewan election and how provincial and federal policies may impact their economic future.

    • Emergency Crews including Regina Fire were called to a house fire in the community of Grand Coulee on Monday afternoon.

    • Three people were killed Monday morning in a crash north of Wellesley.

    • Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.

    • Residents at a Kitchener townhouse complex still haven’t been able to return to their homes, even though it's been 11 months since a fire at a neighbouring unit.

    • The Saskatchewan Government is fighting to have a Court of King's Bench decision reversed. A decision which would allow a constitutional challenge of its Parents' Bill of Rights.

    • Fire crews are battling a blaze at the Candle Lake Golf Course clubhouse on Monday morning.

    • The Saskatchewan Ministry of Education says a woman facing an assault charge is no longer working at a private Christian school where the alleged incident took place.

    • We've all had neighbours we didn't like, but two people from Sault Ste. Marie have been awarded more than half a million dollars for the 'extreme' behaviour of the people who lived next to them.

    • A family dispute related to a property matter turned ugly over the weekend when a 71-year-old hit their head on the pavement after being pushed.

    • The calls are growing louder for city council to tighten the rules governing short-term accommodations, including those advertised on websites like Airbnb and Vrbo, after students arrived by the busload at a rented house in the Masonville neighbourhood.

    • Showers are expected to push into the region through the afternoon as a moisture laden system moves into the Great Lakes Basin.

    • 519 Meets organized a car rally in south London on Saturday in a Value Village parking lot, and it turned out to be their largest ever.

    • Weather warnings and weather statements have been issued for central Ontario.

    • Casino Rama announced three new performances will hit the stage this winter.

    • Tree lighting, horse-drawn rides and the Santa Claus parade all come packaged together in November.

    • Emergency crews are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash in Essex County.According to OPP, County Road 20 is closed between Iler road and McCormick Road in Harrow.

    • Lawyers can't agree on how much time they feel Ryan Turgeon should spend in jail. In April, the 39 year old was found guilty of sexual exploitation and making sexually explicit material available to a minor.

    • Rain could be heavy at times across Windsor-Essex on Tuesday. Environment Canada has issues a special weather statement, with total local rainfall amounts near 30 to 45 mm.

    • B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has ordered WestJet to refund a family in full for their diverted flight and compensate them for associated costs.

    • BC Conservative leader John Rustad dropped a major policy plan Sunday, pledging to eliminate supervised drug consumption sites across B.C. and replace them with intake centres for treatment and recovery.

    • Mounties are asking witnesses to come forward after a woman was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured in a crosswalk in Nanaimo, B.C.

    • A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.

    • The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

    • Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls – including one that gave birth to 10 puppies – from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.

    • A former Lethbridge pastor who bilked millions out of hundreds of southern Albertans has appealed his conviction and sentence.

    • Farmers in southern Alberta are working to wrap up harvest, with 80 per cent of major crops in the bin, according to the province's latest crop report.

    • Monday marked the official start of Reconciliation Week in Lethbridge.

    • We've all had neighbours we didn't like, but two people from Sault Ste. Marie have been awarded more than half a million dollars for the 'extreme' behaviour of the people who lived next to them.

    • Officials in the City of Timmins say the state of Municipal Road, which connects Timmins and Iroquois Falls, is well beyond the patch-up phase.

    • After playing the lottery for more than 40 years, a Greater Sudbury woman made a huge windfall playing a scratch ticket game.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½