Prime Minister Carney launches The Plan for a Stronger Canada to strengthen the country’s sovereignty and build a safer and more prosperous future
October 29, 2026
Ottawa (Ontario)
The world is changing rapidly. The rules-based international order is eroding. Canada’s sovereignty faces new and evolving threats, from cyberattacks to the manipulation of trade agreements. As the line between economic and national security has blurred, sovereignty depends on new imperatives. A country can no longer limit itself to ensuring its food and energy security and its defence. Canada’s security depends on the strength of its economy, the resilience of its institutions, and the partnerships it forges with its allies.
To that end, Prime Minister Mark Carney today launched The Plan for a Stronger Canada . This is Canada’s first national security strategy in over 20 years, and as such, it reflects profound new realities. It sets out an ambitious vision: a Canada in control of its own destiny, a country that demonstrates resilience in the face of external pressures. A country where Canadians are free to live their lives as they choose.
The Plan for a Stronger Canada focuses on what we can control. Rather, it presents a strategy to strengthen Canada’s ability to withstand these threats. These principles have guided the government’s foreign and domestic policy for the past year and a half. The strategy therefore provides a framework for all these efforts and charts a clear path forward for Canadians.
The Plan defines Canada’s core national interests and establishes a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach that combines our economic strength, foreign policy, defence and intelligence capabilities, and public safety initiatives. We will protect Canada’s sovereignty, build our prosperity, and strengthen our strategic autonomy based on these five key priorities:
- Strengthening Canada’s economic security and resilience to threats: Canada has what the world wants. Strengthening our sovereignty in key sectors and channeling our resources and expertise globally will increase Canada’s importance as a strategic player in the global economy. To strengthen its economic sovereignty, Canada is transforming its strategic sectors by making historic investments, protecting its supply chains, maximizing its energy security, and investing in domestic innovation to position Canada as a global leader in critical sectors.
- Promote a disciplined foreign policy that diversifies Canada’s partnerships and enhances its strategic capabilities: No country, regardless of its power, can overcome these challenges in isolation. The primary objective of our foreign policy is to foster Canada’s strategic autonomy and resilience through close cooperation with like-minded partners across its full range of strategic capabilities. Much of the necessary work is already underway. Canada is diversifying its trade and building stronger partnerships to enhance the security and prosperity of Canadians. Furthermore, it is forging new partnerships with its allies, grounded in our shared values, that respect our complementary strengths and strengthen our collective sovereignty and prosperity.
- Rebuilding and strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces to defend Canada and Canadian interests: Defending Canada means building Canada. To safeguard Canada’s sovereignty, strengthen our strategic autonomy, and achieve our objectives within NORAD and NATO, the Government of Canada is transforming how it invests in defence. We are building a stronger and more resilient Canadian defence industrial base capable of equipping, supporting, and strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces; accelerating procurement processes; and working with the Defence Investment Agency to deliver on the Defence Industrial Strategy , enhance strategic autonomy, and create sustainable economic opportunities for Canadians. By transforming its military and defence supply chain, strengthening security in the Arctic and contributing to stability in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and elsewhere, Canada will be able to protect itself within its borders and act as a responsible ally and partner abroad.
- Protecting Canadians and strengthening public safety from criminal threats and national security risks: Canadians must feel safe and free to participate in all aspects of Canadian society. We will work with all levels of government, Indigenous peoples, and northern communities to strengthen our defences and increase our resilience to threats facing our people. We will intensify our efforts to combat foreign interference, espionage, violent extremism, and transnational organized crime, including sabotage, extortion, fraud, online exploitation, financial crime, money laundering, and sanctions circumvention, while protecting Canadians and our institutions from information manipulation by foreign actors.
- Modernizing Canada’s intelligence capabilities to anticipate and counter emerging threats: Our ability to collect, analyze, and utilize intelligence, in collaboration with our partners, allows us to be prepared to address emerging threats. Canada intends to strengthen its sovereign intelligence capabilities, deepen and diversify its intelligence partnerships, and modernize the entire Canadian intelligence enterprise by updating legal frameworks to reflect evolving threats and technologies, while safeguarding the rights of Canadians.
Canada’s new government is strengthening its ability to protect our sovereignty, our resilience to emerging threats, and our partnerships to advance our interests. By investing in our economic security, rebuilding our defence capabilities, and strengthening our institutions, we are ensuring that Canada has the tools it needs to protect Canadians, defend its core national interests, and shape its own future.
In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada will act with greater independence, determination and ambition to build a safer, stronger and more prosperous future for all Canadians.
Quotes
“In a world that has become more dangerous and divided – a world that is changing rapidly – Canada must have the capacity to defend its sovereignty, the resilience to face emerging threats, and the determination to shape its own future. Our Plan for a Stronger Canada will consolidate this strength so that we can live life on our own terms, in the best country in the world.”
The Right Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
“To build a stronger Canada, we must first be able to defend it.The Plan for a Stronger Canada is a clear, whole-of-government plan to protect Canadians, defend our sovereignty, strengthen our economy, and build the capabilities needed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. By investing in our Armed Forces, intelligence capabilities, economic security, critical infrastructure, and other core national capabilities, we are strengthening Canada’s ability to defend its interests, take decisive action when it matters most, and contribute more effectively to collective and continental defence. It is about building a stronger, safer, and more resilient Canada, one that can act independently and confidently, and remain a reliable and effective ally and partner.”
The Hon. David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
“Canada’s security and prosperity are increasingly influenced by events unfolding beyond our borders. In a more competitive and uncertain world, we must defend our sovereignty, assert our interests, and strengthen our cooperation with trusted partners. Our Plan for a Stronger Canada will enhance our security, resilience, and international partnerships to protect Canadians and secure our future.”
The Hon. Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“A country’s sovereignty rests on its ability to protect and defend itself.The Plan for a Stronger Canadaaims to strengthen our capacity to protect Canadians, preserve our democratic institutions, and build our resilience to the evolving threats facing our country. By investing in the most critical capabilities, partnerships, and systems, we are ensuring that Canada is ready to meet challenges both at home and abroad.”
The Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Security
“In an increasingly unpredictable global economy, Canada must be ready to respond to economic threats and seize new opportunities. Our government is taking action to help Canadian businesses reduce their vulnerabilities and increase their competitiveness. We are building a stronger, more resilient economy at home and strengthening industrial partnerships around the world.The Stronger Canada Planwill enable us to bolster our strategic industries and critical supply chains, protect Canadian jobs and economic interests, and deliver a safer, more prosperous future for Canadians.”
The Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for the Regions of Quebec
: Prime Minister of Canada