Defence Minister Anita Anand says the federal government will invest $4.9 billion over the next six years to modernize North America’s aging defence systems. Anand said the decision was made to protect Canadians from “new and emerging threats” from autocratic regimes that threaten rule-based international order, and new weapons developed by other countries. The minister made the announcement Monday in Trenton, Ontario, joined by Gen. Wayne Eyre, chief of the defence staff, and Lt.-Gen. Alain Pelletier, deputy commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Anand said the funding will be part of a plan in which the federal government will commit to about $40 billions over the next 20 years to upgrade NORAD, a joint command system for Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning and protection for the continent….