Ontario's new defence strategy bets on military spending boom, drawing praise and human rights concerns

Summary

The Ford government has unveiled Ontario's first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy, a 10-year plan to capitalize on the global surge in military spending. The strategy aims to position Ontario as a key supplier to Canadian and NATO forces, creating thousands of jobs and adding billions to the provincial economy. While supporters argue the plan could strengthen Canada's economic and geopolitical independence, critics warn that expanding the defence industry could increase pressure to export weapons to human rights abusers.