PM Trudeau 'surprised' provinces unanimous on accelerated defence spending: Ford

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his fellow provincial leaders are united in pushing for Canada to meet its NATO defence spending targets ahead of schedule, and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was "surprised" to hear it.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his fellow provincial leaders are united in pushing for Canada to meet its NATO defence spending targets ahead of schedule, and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was "surprised" to hear it.

Ford — currently chair of the Council of the Federation of Canada’s Premiers — told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an exclusive Canadian broadcast interview airing Sunday that the premiers are making the ask amid U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threats of new tariffs, and conveyed it to the prime minister in his meeting with the premiers last week.

“No, (Trudeau) didn't confirm he was going to do it,” Ford said when asked whether the prime minister made commitments to accelerating defence spending ahead of the government’s 2032 target.

“He was surprised that we had so much interest in it,” Ford added. “But that's the next thing: president-elect Trump will say, you need to meet your two per cent [of GDP] NATO commitments, and he's right. We need to hit our two per cent, and we need to make sure we secure the borders.”

The incoming U.S. president vowed to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico from his first day back in the Oval Office until the neighbouring countries meet a slate of demands including to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across the borders.

Trump’s announcement of the move on social media Monday set off alarm bells across Canada, and prompted that emergency meeting between the prime minister and all the premiers.

Trudeau also then made a surprise visit to West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday night, for a three-hour dinner with Trump and several other guests, during which senior government sources tell CTV News that defence was a topic of conversation.