1.35°C Vancouver

Jul 12, 2024 4:07 PM - The Canadian Press

Poilievre says Trudeau a 'human piñata' at NATO, still won't commit to spending goal

Share On
poilievre-says-trudeau-a-human-piñata-at-nato-still-wont-commit-to-spending-goal
The Conservative leader says Canada has lost its place on the international stage under the Liberal government, and Trudeau lectures the world without doing his part.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Pierre Poilievre says NATO allies treated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau like a human piñata at the leaders' summit this week but he still won't commit to the alliance's spending goal.

The Conservative leader says Canada has lost its place on the international stage under the Liberal government, and Trudeau lectures the world without doing his part.

The prime minister announced Thursday that he expects to hit NATO's defence spending target in 2032 after facing days of pressure at the three-day meeting in Washington, D.C.

He did not share details about how Canada will get there.

Poilievre says the prime minister was just trying to save face among NATO allies who have agreed to spend at least the equivalent of two per cent of national gross domestic product on defence.

He says he isn't committing to meet that target because he doesn’t make promises he can’t keep.

Latest news

canada-loses-84-000-jobs-in-february-as-unemployment-rate-rises-to-6-7
CanadaMar 13, 2026

Canada loses 84,000 jobs in February as unemployment rate rises to 6.7%

Canada’s economy lost 84,000 jobs in February, pushing the national unemployment rate up by 0.2 percentage points to 6.7 per cent, according to new data released Friday by Statistics Canada. The agency said the drop represents the largest monthly employment decline outside the COVID-19 lockdown period in about 17 years. Job losses were recorded across both goods-producing and service-producing sectors. Retail and wholesale trade alone saw about 18,000 positions disappear during the month, the report said. Employment losses were particularly concentrated among men aged 25 to 54 and youth betw
two-men-charged-after-abbotsford-bank-robbery-on-sumas-way
BCMar 12, 2026

Two men charged after Abbotsford bank robbery on Sumas Way

Two men have been charged following a bank robbery investigation in Abbotsford last month, according to the Abbotsford Police Department. Police say officers responded around 5:23 p.m. on Feb. 6 to a report of a robbery at a bank in the 2100 block of Sumas Way. Investigators say a man entered the bank, demanded money, and left with cash before fleeing in a waiting truck. No injuries were reported. The department’s Major Crime Unit took over the investigation and gathered evidence over several weeks that led detectives across the Lower Mainland, police said in a news release. On March 10, inv
vancouver-lapu-lapu-day-festival-to-return-april-19-with-new-safety-measures-after-2025-attack
BCMar 12, 2026

Vancouver Lapu Lapu Day festival to return April 19 with new safety measures after 2025 attack

Organizers say Vancouver’s annual Lapu Lapu Day festival will return April 19, nearly a year after a vehicle ramming attack at last year’s event killed 11 people. Filipino BC announced the gathering will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre rather than on surrounding community streets, saying the venue change is intended to prioritize safety while allowing the Filipino community to come together for reflection. According to a statement from the organization, this year’s event will be called the “Lapu Lapu Day of Togetherness,” focusing on shared reflection and healing following the
rcmp-seize-large-quantities-of-drugs-firearms-in-southeast-district-trafficking-investigation
BCMar 12, 2026

RCMP seize large quantities of drugs, firearms in Southeast District trafficking investigation

A drug trafficking investigation led by the RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region’s Drugs and Organized Crime Team in Kelowna has resulted in the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs, firearms and cash following coordinated searches in Kelowna and Penticton. According to an RCMP statement, investigators began the probe in 2024 into suspected drug trafficking activity in the Southeast District. On Dec. 17, 2025, officers executed search warrants on two vehicles and three residences in Kelowna and Penticton with assistance from the Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton RCMP detachments, a
police-investigate-early-morning-shots-fired-in-surreys-cloverdale-neighbourhood
CanadaMar 12, 2026

Police investigate early-morning shots fired in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood

Surrey Police Service and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit are investigating a report of shots fired early Thursday morning in the Cloverdale area of Surrey. Police said officers responded at about 4:35 a.m. to reports of gunfire in the 19500 block of 65 Avenue. According to a police release, officers arriving at the scene located multiple shell casings in the area. Investigators also found damage to a nearby residence that may be connected to the shooting. Police said no injuries have been reported. The RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit General Investigation Uni

Related News