In response to growing threats around the world, Canada is increasing its military spending. In March, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the country had met its NATO benchmark of spending two per cent of GDP on defence, with plans to spend five per cent by 2035.
Is this the right direction? Is the money being spent in the best way possible? And what about other forms of international engagement such as aid, diplomacy and peacemaking?
Those were some of the questions raised by 14 faith groups in the United Kingdom in July in response to that country’s decision to also increase military spending over the next decade.
In a joint letter with other organizations, the groups stated there is “a clear public appetite for broader discussion on how to build a more secure, resilient and peaceful world … beyond military force.”
The UK letter got me thinking about whether Canadian faith groups are asking for a similar discussion in this country. At least three of them are.
Read more in my column in the Free Press.
Photo above: Spencer Colby, The Canadian Press.
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