Politics · Canada · 50 mins ago
Canada plans $6 billion boost for spy agency and major defence spending
Canada's Liberal government has set out a major increase in defence and security spending in its 2026 budget.
The plan includes $451 billion for core military spending over five years, although the budget does not give a full breakdown.
It also sets aside $2.3 billion for drones and $7.6 billion over five years to extend Canada's NATO mission in Latvia.
The budget allocates $6 billion to CSIS over 10 years starting in 2027, plus $579.5 million in ongoing funding.
The money is meant to help the agency expand its presence and capabilities and rely less on foreign intelligence partners.
Canada currently receives more intelligence from partners such as the United States than it provides, while ties with the U.S. have become less dependable.
The budget says the new CSIS funding will help counter terrorism, foreign interference, espionage and other threats, but officials have not explained how it will be spent.
Canada’s 2026 federal budget allocates $6 billion to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service over 10 years, starting in 2027.
The agency will also receive $579.5 million in ongoing funding to expand its presence and capabilities.
The government says the investment is intended to help CSIS protect Canadians from threats and reduce its reliance on foreign partners.
The budget does not specify how the money will be spent, including what it could mean for staffing.
- Who
- The Canadian government is funding the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
- What
- The budget allocates $6 billion to CSIS over 10 years, plus $579.5 million in ongoing funding.
- When
- The funding starts in 2027, according to Global News. CBC says it starts next fiscal year.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- The government says the money will expand CSIS’s presence and capabilities, help protect Canadians from evolving threats and reduce reliance on foreign partners.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Liberals introduced an updated national security strategy that promised to modernize Canada’s intelligence capabilities.
The federal budget allocated $6 billion to CSIS over 10 years and $579.5 million in ongoing funding.
Global News reported that the $6 billion in CSIS funding is set to start.
- Investment
- $6 billion over 10 years
- Ongoing funding
- $579.5 million
- Agency
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
- Start
- 2027, according to Global News
- Budget date
- November 5, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
Canadians should be able to trust that their country can identify and confront threats to their security, sovereignty and way of life
This funding would help CSIS engage with Canadians in their communities; better protect Canadians from terrorism, foreign interference, espionage and other evolving threats. It would also help CSIS deepen and diversify security relationships around the world.
strengths based on our close ties to America have become our weaknesses. Weaknesses we must correct.
At this point, there’s no particular leaning. I think we're going to be looking at all of our options.