McGuinty says budget will pave the way for Canada to hit defence spending pledge

Defence Minister David McGuinty told reporters he’s confident the budget will receive the votes it needs to pass.

Defence Minister David McGuinty says next week’s federal budget will pave the way for the Canadian government to reach its new NATO commitment to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence.

“What we’ll be doing in the budget is laying track to meet the 5-per-cent target by 2035,” the minister told reporters on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.

He also said he’s confident the minority Liberal government will receive the votes it needs to pass the 2025 fiscal plan in the Commons. That’s in contrast to Steven MacKinnon, Government House Leader, who has said the Liberals did not have the votes yet to pass the budget.

“I have every confidence