Canada’s defence depends on its universities

Ottawa’s new defence spending commitments will only succeed if the country invests strategically in its universities.

Defence Minister David McGuinty. Allies such as the U.S., Australia, Germany, and Sweden have already built integrated defence research ecosystems within their universities, and Canada must do the same, writes Bill Flanagan.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY BILL FLANAGAN

October 1, 2025

Canada is entering a new era of global uncertainty, one in which defence spending is no longer optional but essential. Ottawa has committed to raising its annual defence budget to $62.7-billion next year (two per cent of GDP), and to $150-billion (five per cent of GDP) by 20...

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