Why Canada’s Military Budget Is Skinny—and Its War Crimes History Is Thicker Than Maple Syrup

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By Jonny Johnson — CanAmericaNews.com

Canada: land of politeness, poutine, and—let’s be honest—some questionable military history. While today’s government debates whether to buy a new jet or just slap a maple leaf sticker on the old ones, it’s worth asking: Why does Canada underinvest in its military? And what about those “historic war crimes” that happened before anyone bothered to call them war crimes? But first let’s hear from our sponsor:

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Why Canada’s Military Budget Is Always on a Diet

• Fiscal Fears: Politicians treat the defense budget like a gym membership—good intentions, but rarely used. Hitting NATO’s 2% target would mean billions more every year, and that money has to come from somewhere. Raise taxes? Cut healthcare? Add to the debt? That’s a political triple-axel most leaders won’t even try.

• Public Priorities: Canadians love their healthcare and social programs. When asked about boosting defense, most folks say, “Sure, but take it from somewhere else!” Spoiler: nobody agrees on what “somewhere else” actually means.

• Procurement Paralysis: Even when the government does spend, it gets lost in a maze of red tape. Buying new gear can take longer than waiting for a Leafs Stanley Cup win.

• No Urgent Threat: For decades, Canada figured the U.S. would handle any real trouble. Why buy a new tank when you can just borrow your neighbor’s?

Canada’s World War I Trench Raids: More Than Just “Roughing It”

Let’s talk about the First World War, when Canadian soldiers weren’t just fighting in the mud—they were inventing new ways to make the enemy miserable. Enter the trench raid: a nighttime special where Canadians would sneak across No Man’s Land, faces blackened, gloves on, and weapons ready for up-close chaos.

But here’s where it gets spicy: Canadians got a reputation for being the most enthusiastic and ruthless trench raiders on the Western Front. Forget the “live and let live” truces other armies sometimes had—Canadian troops prided themselves on making the enemy’s life a nightmare.

One infamous trick? Tossing tins of corned beef into German trenches. When the Germans started cheering for more, the Canadians followed up with a volley of grenades instead. It was psychological warfare with a side of dark humor—and a dash of cruelty.

Trench raids weren’t just about gathering intelligence or taking prisoners. They often ended in brutal, hand-to-hand fighting, with Canadians using everything from bayonets to homemade clubs and pipe bombs. Dugouts full of sleeping Germans could be burned or buried alive by tossed grenades. “It was butcher’s work, quick and skilful,” wrote one war correspondent, describing a raid where thirty Germans were killed before the Canadians slipped away.

War Crimes Before They Had a Name

Here’s the kicker: a lot of what happened in those trenches would be considered war crimes today. But back then, the Geneva Conventions were still a work in progress, and nobody was handing out “rules of engagement” pamphlets. Executing prisoners, torching dugouts, and tricking the enemy with food before unleashing explosives? All in a night’s work for the Canadian Corps—no legal consequences, just another page in the regimental diary.

The Maple Leaf’s Dilemma

So why does Canada still pinch pennies on defense? Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s habit. Or maybe it’s just easier to say “sorry” than to write a big check for new submarines.

But as the world gets more dangerous, Canada’s military can’t run on good intentions and nostalgia. It’s time to face the past, fund the future, and stop pretending you can defend a country with moose and Mounties alone.

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