Ottawa to spend $ 2 billion in forces for wage increases, improved benefits

Ottawa spends $ 2 billion to increase wages and improve the benefits for members of the Canadian armed forces, as part of a plan to stimulate military expenditure this tax year And bring Canada closer to its NATO deployment.

The new compensation and benefits package, which will come into effect in the late fall, is the largest that has been introduced since 1998.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the changes on Friday on a military base in Trenton, Ont. The publication is part of the more than $ 9 billion he has promised to spend this tax year to bring Canada’s defense spending to 2 percent of GDP. By 2035, Mr Carney promised that to walk up to 5 percent in accordance with a recent target by countries of the North Atlantic Convention Organization.

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NATO members were under pressure from US President Donald Trump to increase their contributions to the collective defense of the military alliance.

The wage increase was also part of the platform of the Liberal Party prior to the spring elections.

“As the demands on our Canadian armed forces have increased, their means and salaries have not kept pace, and these are the men and women we trust to wear the Maple Leaf, the Canadian flag and risk their lives for it,” he said.

The improved compensation package comprises the wage increases of 8 percent for colonels and higher, 13 percent for lieutenant colonels and lower, and 20 percent in starting wage for private people who work full-time (13 percent for those who work part-time). All increases will be on top of the basic wage and retroactive force until 1 April 2025.

The wage increase applies to full-time and part-time CAF members, including the Canadian Rangers, and the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service. However, it is a shortage of the over-the-sign increase from the federal minister of David McGuinty by 20 percent in June.

Philippe Lagassé, assistant professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs of Carleton University, said that, while the mix of benefits announced by the federal government yields a healthy improvement, Ottawa could have been daring with the wage increase for retention.

“I was a bit struck by the fact that the middle framework of people we are really trying not to keep the complete increase of 20 percent,” he said.

The last wage increase approved for CAF members was received in March 2021.

Despite achieving his recruitment goal in the last tax year, staff shortages remain an important problem for many operations in the Canadian army. 53 of 116 CAF professions, or around 45 percent, are filled to less than 75 percent capacity.

To encourage higher registration in critical professions, such as dental assistants and vehicle technicians, a $ 50,000 incentive will now be spent step by step to those who join these roles.

In support of the prime minister’s focus on defending the sovereignty of Canada and increasing his presence in the North Pole area, CAF members who are used in the North will receive an extra 50 percent of their environmental allowance, which is an advantage that is given to members who work in unfavorable circumstances. Members who work on the aforementioned domestic activities also receive an extra $ 45 a day.

Instructors within the CAF will also receive further financial incentives, including $ 300 per month for those placed at a designated training school.

Members also receive an annual payment benefit of the military service, which will be paid as a fixed amount and on the basis of years of service and registration date. Full -time members who have served for five to 10 years, for example, receive a fixed amount of $ 2,000. The scale increases step by step and closes $ 6,000 for full -time members who have served for more than 20 years.

Advantages for full-time CAF members who are asked to move will switch from the wage scale of a member to their number of movements.

For each of the first three movements of a member, for example, they receive $ 13,500. That number will push up to $ 20,050 for movements four to six and $ 27,000 for all subsequent movements.

Improvements in food, transport and incidental reimbursements for members moving without their families, and therefore maintaining a second household, will also be implemented.

On Thursday, a report published by Reuters mentioned an informal recommendation from Canadian defense officials to continue with the purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets.

The purchase of the American aircraft has been strongly disputed since it was introduced in 2023. In March, Mr Carney launched an evaluation of the purchase and said that he is considering reducing the order at the American company and looking for more cost -effective alternatives from other countries.

Mr Carney said on Friday with reporters that the assessment has not yet been completed and that no definitive advice had been given to the government. He added that considerations such as value for money, as part of the wider NATO obligation of the country, will play a key role in the final decision of Ottawa.

“With regard to the dedication, the resources we are going to do, that quadruple of resources against the end of this decade, we have the responsibility to ensure that they are spent on the way that has a maximum impact.”