Carney Boosts Canadian Military Pay 20%, Edging Toward NATO Target

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a broad pay package for the Canadian Armed Forces that will raise entry-level salaries for regular-force privates by 20% and for reservist privates by 13%. Smaller increases apply to higher ranks, and the government is introducing new allowances and retention bonuses of up to $50,000 for hard-to-fill technical roles. Ottawa estimates the measures will add about $2 billion to the defence payroll each year. The pay boost forms part of a wider C$9.3 billion increase in military funding slated for the current fiscal year, which Carney says is intended to bring Canada’s defence spending to NATO’s benchmark of 2% of gross domestic product. The initiative also seeks to bolster recruitment and shore up operational readiness amid staffing shortages in more than 50 critical occupations.