Canada commits to joining European defence plan in throne speech – National [Video]

Canada will join the European Union’s new defence plan that aims to rapidly increase military arms production in a bid to move away from U.S. reliance, Tuesday’s throne speech confirmed.

The move to join ReArm Europe was announced by King Charles III as he read the speech from the throne in Parliament, during a section on the government’s plans for national defence and security.

“The Government will protect Canada’s sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces,” the King said.

“It will boost Canada’s defence industry by joining ReArm Europe, to invest in transatlantic security with Canada’s European partners. And it will invest to strengthen its presence in the North, which is an integral part of Canada, as this region faces new threats.”

The ReArm Europe plan, announced by the EU in March, would earmark up to the equivalent of C$1.25 trillion for defence over five years. It includes a loan program worth about $235 billion to be …