Winnipeg, July 7, 2026: Members and supporters of Peace Alliance Winnipeg joined in cross-Canada protests against Canada’s membership in NATO.
We call for Canada to withdraw from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and cancel the NATO War Bank
by Canada Wide Peace and Justice Network/Peace Alliance Winnipeg, July 7, 2026
In advance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s summit in Ankara, Türkiye, the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network is calling for Canada to withdraw from the U.S.-led military alliance and to cancel plans to establish NATO’s war bank, the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB). NATO is recklessly driving up Canada’s military spending for weapons procurement and warfighting capabilities while more Canadians are living in poverty and are homeless.
According to NATO’s latest Defence Expenditures report, Canada’s military spending has increased from $23 billion in 2015 to $63 billion in 2025, which has diverted public funding away from crucial social programs and climate action. To reach NATO’s 2% GDP target, the Carney government has issued layoff notices to thousands of federal employees and slashed funding to programs and services that help Canadians.
The Carney government has irresponsibly endorsed the NATO Defence Pledge to further increase military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated that the 5% pledge would mean spending $159 billion/year on the military and would weaken the government’s economic position.
NATO’s shameful demand for higher military spending and more weapons is enriching weapons dealers, fueling an arms race, and threatening a global war. As U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated, “NATO is returning to its war-fighting roots. Allies must turn the 5% commitment into a capacity to fight.”
NATO is not a defensive alliance, but a war machine that has destroyed the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Ukraine and violated the United Nations’ Charter. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has admitted that NATO is using Ukraine as a proxy in a war against Russia. NATO allies armed Israel in its genocide against Palestinians. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently revealed that allies allowed the U.S. to use their European bases to conduct illegal air strikes against Iran.
As a NATO ally, Canada is complicit in this warmaking that has caused mass civil death and destruction. Moreover, NATO prevents Canada from having an independent foreign policy and sovereign control over its budget and territory. This costly, carbon-intensive military bloc is also impeding international cooperation and exacerbating the climate crisis.
Canada must not create the NATO war bank to ramp up weapons production and arms exports. Canada should instead invest in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement to protect people and the planet. Canada should also sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
It’s time for Canada to invoke Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty and get out of NATO. It’s time to abolish the U.S.-led, nuclear-armed alliance, end the wars, and build peace with all countries including Russia and China