Defence spending is on the ballot this election. So is military 'culture', say some N.B. voters

Canada's military has featured prominently in the discourse this federal election, with questions about its preparedness amid moves by U.S. President Donald Trump to upend the conventional global order.

But while federal party leaders make promises about boosting defence spending, some in New Brunswick's military community say more money isn't the only change they want to see after this election.

"I think if [military members] are feeling burnt out and not appreciated, and there's not the equipment to do the things that they need to do, they're going to feel low," said Jennafer Lapierre, the wife of a 25-year member of the Canadian Forces.

"So definitely money is part of it, but you know, there's the whole culture of the military right now is a little bit, like, lacking morale overall."

In their campaigns ahead of the April 28 federal election, the Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats have each pledged to increase spending.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney said he'd bring defence spending up to two per cent of Canada's GDP — in line with the NATO benchmark — by 2030.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilivre promised to "work toward" that target, as did the NDP.

Lapierre said she's voted Conservative in some elections, including in 2008, when she felt former prime minister Stephen Harper was better for the military at a time when her husband was being deployed to Afghanistan.

She said she's also voted Liberal — notably in 2015, in response to cuts Harper went on to make to Veterans Affairs.

This time around, Lapierre said she's pleased with the parties' promises about defence spending, and has been undecided about how she'll vote.

But she's leaning toward the message from Poilievre that speaks to a less tangible gripe about the direction the military has taken in recent years.

"I liked when Poilievre said that he wanted to bring back, like, warrior culture, because I feel like that's lacking right now, and I think a lot of people will embrace that," Lapierre said.

Speaking to the Toronto Sun last December, Poilievre claimed an "insane, woke DEI obsession" by the Liberals and NDP was to blame for the Forces' recruitment challenges, and said that as prime minister, he'd "bring back a warrior culture" focused on fighting for Canada.

Poilievre repeated that message at an event in Ottawa in February, when he said, "Our military will be guided by a warrior culture not a woke culture."