Skip to Main content

15.27°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Feb 12, 2025 3:00 PM - The Canadian Press

Defence Minister Bill Blair says Canada working hard to meet NATO spending target

Share On

defence-minister-bill-blair-says-canada-working-hard-to-meet-nato-spending-target

The minister is in Brussels to meet with NATO allies and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Defence Minister Bill Blair says Canada is working hard to accelerate its defence spending to get to the two per cent threshold that it has committed to as part of NATO.

The minister is in Brussels to meet with NATO allies and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

U.S. President Donald Trump has complained that Canada is not meeting its NATO spending commitments and talked about Canada becoming the 51st state.

Blair called the 51st state comments "disrespectful and concerning."

The minister pointed to Norad as an example of how Canada and the U.S. work together on continental defence.

He says Norad is an incredibly effective alliance where the two countries have worked together and that Canada has already committed almost $38.6 billion to Norad modernization.

Latest news

trump-reiterates-call-for-u-s-control-of-greenland-during-nato-summit

WorldJul 07, 2026

Trump reiterates call for U.S. control of Greenland during NATO summit

U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Greenland should be under United States control rather than Denmark, renewing remarks he has made previously about the strategically located Arctic territory. Speaking to reporters during the NATO summit in Türkiye while meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump said the presence of Chinese and Russian vessels in waters around Greenland is a security concern for the United States. He said Washington would not accept the current situation. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump's comments revive a l

b-c-government-says-it-will-pursue-legal-action-against-openai-over-tumbler-ridge-mass-shooting

B.C. government says it will pursue legal action against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting

The British Columbia government says it is preparing to launch legal proceedings against OpenAI in connection with the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, alleging the company failed to alert police after identifying warning signs on its ChatGPT platform. Attorney General Niki Sharma made the announcement during a news conference in Vancouver on Tuesday. According to Sharma, the province has retained legal counsel in both British Columbia and California, where OpenAI is headquartered, to pursue the case on behalf of the government. Sharma alleged that OpenAI identified violent activity linked to t

iran-says-no-final-agreement-talks-if-u-s-threats-continue

WorldJul 07, 2026

Iran says no final agreement talks if U.S. threats continue

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will not begin negotiations on a final agreement with the United States if what he described as U.S. threats continue. In a post on social media, Araghchi said Clause 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) states that negotiations on a final agreement cannot begin in an atmosphere of threats. He also urged the United States to honour its commitments under the agreement. According to Araghchi, Clause 13 commits both countries to implementing a ceasefire, removing restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, providing sanctions relief and

cbsa-lays-12-charges-against-two-alleged-immigration-agents-in-126-000-international-student-tuition-fraud-case

CanadaJul 07, 2026

CBSA lays 12 charges against two alleged immigration agents in $126,000 international student tuition fraud case

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid 12 criminal charges against two alleged immigration agents accused of defrauding international students of nearly $126,000 through a tuition fee scheme. According to the CBSA, the investigation began in February 2025 after Lambton College provided confidential information alleging that the suspects collected tuition payments from students, issued fraudulent documents, and failed to enroll them in the post-secondary programs they had promised. Following the seizure and examination of digital evidence, the CBSA said Hardik Dave of Cambridge, Ont.

WorldJul 07, 2026

India to supply BrahMos missiles to Indonesia as leaders strengthen defence partnership

India and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen their defence partnership, with India confirming it will supply supersonic BrahMos missiles to the Indonesian military following high-level talks in Jakarta on Tuesday. The decision was announced after a bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. According to statements issued following the meeting, the two leaders also agreed to enhance maritime security cooperation and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals. In the presence of both leaders, officials from the two countries sign

Related News

CBSA lays 12 charges against two alleged immigration agents in $126,000 international student tuition fraud case

CBSA lays 12 charges against two alleged immigration agents in $126,000 international student tuition fraud case

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid 12 criminal charges against two alleged immigration agents accused of defrauding international students of nearly $126,000 through a tuition fee scheme. According to the CBSA, the investigation began in February 2025 after Lambton College provided confidential information alleging that the suspects collected tuition payments from students, issued fraudulent documents, and failed to enroll them in the post-secondary programs they had promised. Following the seizure and examination of digital evidence, the CBSA said Hardik Dave of Cambridge, Ont.

Carney appoints principal secretary Tom Pitfield, Conservative MP Richard Martel to Senate

Carney appoints principal secretary Tom Pitfield, Conservative MP Richard Martel to Senate

Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed four new senators, including his principal secretary Tom Pitfield and Conservative MP Richard Martel, marking the first Senate appointments of his tenure. The Prime Minister's Office announced Tuesday that Pitfield and Martel will represent Quebec in the upper chamber. According to the announcement, Carney is also ending the previous government's practice of using a non-partisan advisory process as the primary criterion for Senate appointments. Pitfield has served as Carney's principal secretary since the prime minister took office in March 2025 and has

Carney, Erdogan agree to launch Canada–Türkiye free trade talks during NATO summit

Carney, Erdogan agree to launch Canada–Türkiye free trade talks during NATO summit

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday during the NATO Summit in Ankara, where the two leaders discussed defence, security, critical minerals, energy and Canada's continued support for Ukraine, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister's Office said Carney and Erdogan also agreed to begin formal negotiations on a Canada–Türkiye Free Trade Agreement. The federal government said bilateral trade between Canada and Türkiye reached $4.3 billion in 2025 and that a trade agreement could create new opportunities for businesses, work

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital