Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for a revival of a “warrior culture” within Canada’s armed forces, arguing that such a shift is necessary to inspire enlistment and restore military pride, as national defense spending faces increased scrutiny.

Speaking Monday in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced military budget increase, Poilievre said boosting spending is not enough without addressing what he sees as a deeper cultural decline within the Canadian Forces.

“We need a warrior culture that actually inspires people to join the military again,” Poilievre told reporters. “Right now, we don’t have that.”

Carney’s government recently committed to increasing defence spending, aligning more closely with NATO targets. The move has reignited debate over whether Canada should aim for even higher benchmarks including the 5% of GDP figure floated in NATO circles.

Poilievre appeared skeptical of such figures, questioning their realism: “Who has actually hit 5%? Does anyone hit 5% right now?” he asked, implying that the focus should be on impact and reform, not just metrics.

Canada currently spends approximately 1.4% of its GDP on defense, below NATO’s baseline recommendation of 2%.

The comments come amid broader concerns over military recruitment shortfalls, equipment modernization, and Canada’s global defense commitments. Critics have warned that without cultural and structural reforms, increased spending alone may not solve the Armed Forces’ long-standing challenges.