Stephen Harper’s Conservative government launched its Canada First Defence Strategy in 2008 – a massive shopping list of military equipment including warships, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, and even drones. The cost is hard to imagine: Canadians will pay nearly a half-trillion-dollars to fund the Department of National Defence over the twenty years of the CFDS plan.

This unprecedented arms buildup has increased the influence of the defence industry in Canada dramatically. Lobbying, publicity, conferences, and advertising are all used to secure contracts and push programs forward.

Learn more about the defence lobby from Ceasefire.ca’s new factsheet, “Inside Canada’s Defence Lobby.”

Download the factsheet