Conservatives will build permanent military base in Iqaluit, says Poilievre – National [Video]

A Conservative government would built a permanent military base in Nunavut and pay for it by “dramatically cutting” Canada’s foreign aid budget, Leader Pierre Poilievre said Monday in Iqaluit.

Speaking at a press conference Poilievre said CFB Iqaluit would serve as a base for Royal Canadian Air Force operations defending Canada’s Arctic and for search and rescue missions. He said the base would be operational within two years of him becoming prime minister.

“One hundred per cent of the cost of the base will come from the foreign aid budget,” he said. “In fact, today’s announcement will actually reduce the deficit because I plan to cut foreign aid more than the full cost of the announcement that I’ve made today,” he said.

According to a parliamentary report tabled last year, Canada spent $15.5 billion on foreign aid in the 2022-23 fiscal year. That included international assistance in conflict zones like Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, along with …