NDP Media Release: NDP reaction to Carney's new NATO defence spending pledge
NDP Media Release: NDP reaction to Carney's new NATO defence spending pledge
NDP Media Release 25.6.2025
NDP reaction to Carney's new NATO defence spending pledge
In reaction to Mark Carney's new NATO defence spending pledge to hit 5 per cent of GDP by 2035, NDP critic for Defence Heather McPherson issued the following statement:
“Increasing defence spending to 5 per cent was never part of Mark Carney’s election campaign – which ended less than two months ago. This was not part of the mandate he received from Canadians.
Carney's new pledge would cost Canadians more than $100 billion per year. That’s twice the amount the federal government transfers to the provinces and territories for healthcare. At a time when Canadians urgently need investments in healthcare, affordable housing, and climate change mitigation, they should be worried about what services they may lose to make up this extraordinary and unexpected cost.
Right now, workers are losing their jobs because of Trump’s reckless trade war, and this Liberal government is telling them it can’t provide proper support. That's not what Carney promised on the campaign trail.
New Democrats recognize that Canadian Armed Forces personnel and infrastructure were underfunded by successive Liberal and Conservative governments, and there is a need to increase investment in these services. And the growing threats to Canadian sovereignty and security are real. But these threats are not only military, and defence spending is not the only solution – that’s why the Liberals should be reversing their cuts to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and international development.
While this Liberal government emphasizes Arctic security and sovereignty, there is an excessive focus on security. Northerners continue to face barriers to fully participating in Arctic sovereignty, which in turn limits their engagement in Arctic security. That’s why greater investment in Arctic sovereignty is essential—including funding for housing, schools, airports, and marine ports. These investments will empower Northerners to contribute meaningfully to the region’s security and future.
Canadians deserve a government that puts their needs first. When the Liberal government says it has billions for weapons but not enough for affordable housing or healthcare, it means more people will fall through the cracks.
New Democrats will fight every day so that you and your family aren’t left behind.”
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August 7, 2026
New Democrats Renew Calls on Canada to Ban the RSS and Deny Entry to its Chief
OTTAWA —New Democrats are calling on the federal government to deny entry to the head of the fascist paramilitary organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network (RSS) and are renewing past NDP calls on Canada to ban the RSS entirely.
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson and NDP Immigration and Public Safety Critic Jenny Kwan today wrote to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Safety, and Immigration to urge action in advance of Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to Canada at the end of August.
“The RSS is an extremist group that advocates hate and violence towards religious minorities and marginalized in India and also engages in targeted intimidation of those who speak out against the organization in Canada,” said Heather McPherson, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic. “Multiple minority communities fear his presence in Canada could amplify hate and violence towards them and risk the safety of vulnerable individuals.”
In recent weeks, United Nations Human Rights experts have called on Canada to ensure members of the Sikh community are protected from violent threats by Hindutva extremist groups including the RSS.
“Canada must send a clear message that there is no place in this country for individuals who promote or enable hatred, violence, or intimidation against vulnerable communities or who are connected to activities that threaten Canada's security and democratic institutions. Pertinent sections of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act must be applied to protect Canadians and declare the IRSS and its members inadmissible,” said Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Public Safety and for Immigration.
New Democrats have long called on Canada to ban the RSS from Canada, place the RSS on the terrorist entities list, and impose sanctions on connected networks. Despite strong evidence of foreign interference and incitement to violence against Canadians, the Liberals have refused to take action on the RSS. Instead, in recent months the Carney government has grown closer to the Modi regime, causing members of several minority groups in Canada to say their safety no longer matters to the Liberal government.
On August 6, over 200 Canadian civil society organizations released a joint letter calling for Mohan Bhagwat to be denied entry to Canada.
