But there needs to be more Inuit-led projects that support sovereignty and security goals, Obed said. Even the proposed Inuit Nunangat University<\/a> would be able to contribute to defence or militarization through research.<\/p>\n \u201cCanada is woefully behind in its [defence] spending,\u201d Obed told the senators.<\/p>\n The federal budget, which narrowly passed<\/a> in the House of Commons on Monday, contains spending to address what it described as \u201cyears of inadequate equipment\u201d for the Canadian Armed Forces.<\/p>\n In the 2025-26 fiscal year that ends in March, Canada is projected to spend $62 billion on national defence, and an additional $81.8 billion in defence spending over five years.<\/p>\n Historically, the federal government \u201ctended to make big promises for Arctic security during times of crisis, but when the crisis passed the promises seemed to evaporate<\/a>,\u201d said Nova Scotia Sen. Stan Kutcher during the committee meeting.<\/p>\n Obed responded, saying that this time the security crisis Canada faces is not the same.<\/p>\n \u201cThe difference in this crisis is that other countries are putting their money into security, defence, economic development and sovereignty structures within their part of the Arctic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s Arctic investments \u201cpale\u201d compared to what the country\u2019s traditional adversaries have been spending, he said.<\/p>\n China \u2014 which refers to itself as \u201cnear-Arctic state<\/a>\u201d \u2014 and Russia both ramped up their Arctic investments in recent years.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251114.100.90.png\" "\\"\\"")
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