On January 12, 2026, the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, of which the Group of 78 is a proud member, wrote to Prime Minister Carney to make the case against excessive military budgets and joining the US Golden Dome project. As Earl Turcotte, Chairperson of CNANW, wrote: “Since assuming office, you have made two of the most potentially consequential and profoundly disturbing announcements ever made by a Canadian Prime Minister – both with little or no consultation, nor evidence of the support of the Canadian electorate. The first, that Canada agrees with a 150% increase in Defence spending by NATO states to 5% of GDP by 2035 from the longstanding target of 2% which Canada will meet for the first time, this year. The second, that Canada may participate in U.S. President Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defence System which, in our view, will accelerate the arms race, lead to the weaponization of space and increase the risk of nuclear war. In addition to being tragically ill-conceived, the resource implications of both endeavours appear excessive in the extreme. We urge you and your colleagues to reconsider.” Read the full letter here: https://pugwashgroup.ca/cnanw/
