Only On The Walters Post
I’m not here to tell folks what to think — just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.”
Let me ask you something. If Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, with all the brains, tools, and resources we could ever need, then why are we falling behind when it comes to defending ourselves?
The answer isn’t that we don’t care. The truth is simpler and harder to hear. Yes, we are sort of broke, deeply in debt and stretched thin. But it’s not because we ran out of money. It’s because the people in charge have been wasting what we have, dragging their feet, and putting off the tough decisions for years. They don’t want to admit it, but I will.
Right now, Canada spends about one point four per cent of our GDP on defence. That is far below the NATO goal of two per cent. Meanwhile, countries like Poland, which are nowhere near as wealthy as we are, are spending over four per cent because they know the world is not safe anymore. Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have all met or committed to meeting the two per cent mark. They stepped up. We did not.
But we could. In fact, we could do better than two per cent, that is if we stopped wasting money on things that do not help Canadians, we could be stronger, safer, and more respected. So here is where the money really goes at least from what I found out, and what needs to change.
1. Too Many Government Layers
We have too many departments, too many offices doing the same thing, and too many people pushing paper instead of doing something useful. The government spends over fifty-five billion dollars a year just to run itself. A lot of that is wasted on overlap, slow processes, and things we do not even need anymore.
2. Foreign Aid with No Follow-Up
We send out around seven billion dollars a year in foreign aid. Some of it is good and helps people who truly need it. But a big chunk of it goes to countries with poor records or no accountability. The thing is… Canadians have every right to ask why we are giving away billions, when our own military is underfunded and stretched thin.
3. Reports and Consultants
Instead of fixing problems, governments spend millions studying them. They hire consultants to write long reports and recommendations, then shelve them. That money could go toward real equipment, training, and infrastructure.
4. Travel and Perks for Politicians
While the average Canadian struggles to afford groceries, those in power fly business class, stay in luxury hotels, and collect travel pay. The cost of government travel and perks can run into the hundreds of millions every year.
5. Handouts to Big Corporations
Big companies making billions still get handouts from the government. Oil, auto, and green energy firms, media outlets, and others have all gotten taxpayer support. This adds up to between fifteen and twenty billion dollars a year. That is money going to rich CEOs while our soldiers go without basic gear.
6. Bad Purchasing Decisions
When Canada does try to spend on defence, we often mess it up. Projects take years longer than they should, and cost way more than they were supposed to. We delayed buying new fighter jets for over a decade. We pay more than we should, and get less than we need.
7. Public Sector Wages and Pensions
There are over four hundred thousand federal workers, many earning more than their private sector counterparts, with guaranteed pensions that most people in the real world do not get. Salaries and pensions cost over sixty billion a year. Now here’s the thing, I am not saying slash and burn, but we do need to trim and refocus.
What We Could Do Instead
If we took just a third of that wasted money and put it to good use, we could not only meet the NATO target of two per cent, we could go beyond it. We could build a modern, well-equipped military. We could protect the Arctic, strengthen our cyber defences, and show the world that Canada is not just a quiet observer.
We could also use some of that money to bring back real manufacturing here at home, secure our energy supply, and invest in real education and science instead of flashy slogans and pet projects.
Final Word
This is not about war, it’s about being ready, being smart, and being respected. It is about making sure our soldiers have what they need, and that our country can take care of itself in a dangerous world.
The truth is, we can afford it. What we cannot afford is more delay, more waste, and more excuses.
So the next time someone says we cannot afford to step up, ask them where all the money is going now, and why none of it ever seems to make a difference where it matters most.
“That’s how I see it, plain and simple” or “Just my opinion, take it or leave it”? GW