What to know
- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $900 million in new military assistance to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.
- The funding includes $475 million for ammunition, nearly $400 million for 35 armoured vehicles and $50 million for technology and engineering equipment as part of Canada’s broader $2.8 billion military commitment to Ukraine in 2026.
- Some Torontonians told Now Toronto they support helping Ukraine but believe Canada should prioritize domestic issues such as healthcare, inflation, infrastructure and support for nonprofits before increasing foreign aid.
- Others said they trust the federal government to make difficult decisions on international conflicts.
Canada’s federal government has announced $900 million in military assistance to Ukraine, and Torontonians have mixed opinions about it.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the support on Tuesday, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. According to Carney, the aid comes after the two discussed the latest developments of the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground.
Out of the $900 million announced, $475 million will be allocated for the purchase of ammunition, nearly $400 million to build 35 armoured vehicles, and $50 million for technology and engineering equipment. The money is part of Canada’s $2.8 billion commitment to military support in 2026.
“This barbarism of Putin, which continues and continues in recent days, will not succeed. Every day, this is senseless suffering,” the prime minister said during a press conference alongside Zelenskyy in Ankara.
“Let’s end this. The pressure on Russia is only going to increase. Ukraine is going to win. We have much positive work to do.”
The announcement comes after the federal government announced the extension of Operation UNIFIER earlier this year through 2029. This program offers military training to members of the Security Forces of Ukraine (SFU).
The program was launched in 2015, after Russia invaded Ukraine and took control of Crimea in 2014, and later modified after the country launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Since then, Canada has also dedicated millions in monetary and military support to the country, which have sparked mixed reactions from locals.
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Torontonians react to added support
Toronto residents are reacting to the support announcement, with some telling Now Toronto they think the aid might be coming at the wrong time.
One resident, Audree, says although she supports Canada providing help to Ukraine, she believes the government should also consider its internal priorities, including nonprofit organizations that are based in the country and also need aid.
“Of course we have to help them with this invasion that is so unfair, but also, is it the right move when Canadians are suffering right now here in our country? I am unsure how I feel about this. It’s polarized in my head. I think it’s a good move, but maybe the wrong time,” she said.
“We are seeing a lot of problems happening all over Canada that require human rights resources, and we are all suffering. We really need help right now.”
Another Toronto resident shared a similar view, saying they believe the federal government should focus on prioritizing issues happening in the country.
“I feel that before investing money into Ukraine or sending help, there’s a lot to be done here, like healthcare, roads, obviously. So I think that it’s a good decision, but also [keeping] Canada on priority, [with] the inflation and all,” they said.
On the other hand, a different resident, Kevin, said he trusts the federal government to make the best decisions when it comes to complex topics, including sending aid to Ukraine.
“When wars happen, it’s just overall difficult. Politicians [are] just trying to act on what they think is best for the country or the global economy, and then based on the situation they can take the measures they think [are] best…It’s a very complex situation,” he added.
