By Council of Canadians and World BEYOND War, June 11, 2025
Council of Canadians, World BEYOND War Call on Carney to Reject “Dangerous, Costly” Scheme
OTTAWA – The Council of Canadians, World BEYOND War, and allies are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to reject any Canadian participation in U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently announced “Golden Dome” project.
Canada could join the missile interceptor programme as part of the trade and security pact the Carney government is currently negotiating with the U.S. Talks between the two countries are moving rapidly, with some media reports suggesting a deal could be announced in the coming days.
Nikolas Barry-Shaw, trade and privatization campaigner, Council of Canadians:
“We shouldn’t even be considering signing up for the Golden Dome. We’ve seen this movie before, and we know how it ends. This latest ‘Star Wars’ reboot will cost Canadians tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars, inflame international tensions and lead to the militarization of space. It will make American arms manufacturers richer, but it will not make Canadians any safer.”
“Corporate Canada may think joining Trump’s Golden Dome is a good idea, but most Canadians do not. Polls show ordinary Canadians remain overwhelmingly opposed to putting anti-missile weapon systems in space, with good reason. If Mark Carney signs us up for Trump’s Golden Dome, it would be a monumental betrayal of the trust Canadians have placed in him.”
Rachel Small, Canada lead, World BEYOND War:
“It is unthinkable that Canada would partner on a new hundreds of billions of dollars project with the US at the same moment that President Donald Trump is deploying economic aggression and annexationist threats against Canada. Let alone a project that will antagonize military powers around the world while sparking a race to militarize space.”
“Spending hundreds of billions of dollars on outrageous and aggressive weapons systems like the Golden Dome is a slap in the face to everyone in Canada struggling to get by or to imagine a life for their children in a country that sets new wildfire records nearly every year.”
“If ever there were a time to reassess the genuine threats to the security of people across Canada and separate them from the self-interested goals of Donald Trump or the American weapons industry, this is it.”
Quotes from allies
“Participating in Trump’s Golden Dome is a betrayal of Mark Carney’s promise to distance Canada from the U.S.,” explained Canadian Foreign Policy Institute fellow Tamara Lorincz. “Canada must oppose weaponizing space and escalating the arms race.”
“During the election campaign, the Liberals promised to distance Canada from the US military”, says Karen Rodman from Just Peace Advocates. “Joining the Golden Dome would betray that promise. Canada shouldn’t participate in Trump’s Golden Dome.”
Background
Canadians oppose paying Trump to join the Golden Dome by a margin of nearly 4-to-1 (63% against, versus 17% for Canadians participation), according to a Nanos poll, conducted June 1-3.
Last week, the Toronto Sun reported that the Carney government’s discussions over a trade and security pact with the U.S. “have recently intensified with the hope of announcing a deal within the next week to 10 days.” “What we can expect is an announcement that Canada will increase its defence spending, including potential participation in the Golden Dome missile defence system.”
The U.S. has spent more than $350 billion on anti-missile systems over the past 60 years, with few tangible results to show for it. Experts and scientists have criticized the Golden Dome initiative as “a fantasy,” “a mirage,” and “science fiction.”
About us
Since 1985, the Council of Canadians has organized across the country to challenge corporate power and advocate for people, the planet, and democracy. Along with other anti-war groups, it played a leading role in the opposition to George W. Bush’s failed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) initiative in the early 2000s. The Council does not accept money from corporations or governments.
World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.
17 Responses
Funding the war machine, which is corrupt in every possible way, is horrid for our peace keeping nation. I hope the Canadian made policy and tariff war will keep this money from going to America or american companies. This is otherwise hypocritical of the very reason Carney was elected. Stop funding war, stop funding offensive terror, stop funding israel and America.
No to war spending. Yes, to spending on education, health care, child care, and rent geared to income housing.
There are far better uses for that amount of funding to be used on, right here at home. Education, affordable housing, feeding low income children at school.
Contributing to the continued abuse of power of the US worldwide, who continue to break international laws along with Israel must come to an end.
So 1960s equivalent Bomarck missiles to fall over Canada – dumb then,
deadly now
It’s unthinkable that Canada would partner with the fascist US government on a delusional ego-maniacal project to militarize space and escalate militarization globally. This is particularly disturbing given Trump’s threats to Canada. Stop this madness immediately. Invest in people and sustainable systems.
Provide a letter to Carney to sign, please.
The” ‘Dome” will not serve as a deterrent as long as an enemy is fearful that some of the North American owned nuclear missiles might get through their defences. That should be enough. So there is no need to spend billions of dollars on emitting GHGs in the process of building a system which is likely to be at best only partially successful in repelling enemy missiles, and which is unlikely to deter our own nuclear response, leading to an even greater catastrophe for lives of all kinds.
Let’s spend any money on climate change mitigation with a little for some of the longer lasting and less polluting adaptation strategies.
Yes. Please.
Canada cannot afford to back this full-swing militarization that is the US’s trajectory. We do not need all the equipment, now being tested out on human guinea pigs in Gaza, in order to protect ourselves from the crumbling US Empire. In putting all our tax dollars into militarization, we are ensuring a nuclear war, WWWIII. Please, we did not elect you, Mr. Carney, for this.
Do not do anything with Trump, do not trust this despicable man…Canada will have hard times but Canadians would rather have that than to align themselves with fascist fool…
Life is not a game.
Preparing for war is planning war.
This is not the legacy we deserve.
As you have written we need to ask ourselves what we value and spend on our values.
I value peace.
I value a healthy environment.
I value people .
I do not value things- especially things that kill.
I’m so disappointed in you, joining Trumps golden dome? I thought you would stand up to Trump. but your just another conservative. I’ve heard it said that the NDP are just another Liberal party, but I think that’s wrong. I think the Liberals are just another Conservative party! I’ve voted Liberal, NEVER AGAIN!!!
would love to add my name to a petition. carney is just that.. a carnival goon.
Insanity
Dear Friends,
I just added the petition:
No Golden Dome for Canada
https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/no-golden-dome-for-canada?share=03a50f66-25e7-4b02-ba76-043a54472855&source=&utm_source=
It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to add your name because:
The Golden Dome purports to defend North America against incoming missiles by placing interceptors in space, but the technical challenges are enormous, the costs astronomical, and the strategic risks profound. This project has the potential to spark an arms race and potentially make a pre-emptive attack more likely.
According to former Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, “The proper response to another Trump-era folly is not quiet consideration or cautious diplomacy. It’s a firm, unequivocal no – just as it was in 1985.”
Canadian values should incline us to put additional federal dollars into global conflict resolution and emergency foreign aid rather than expend mega-billions on a potentially costly boondoggle with an unreliable partner that will make the world even more unstable and insecure.
https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/no-golden-dome-for-canada?share=03a50f66-25e7-4b02-ba76-043a54472855&source=&utm_source=
Real change happens when everyday people like you and I come together and stand up for what we believe in. Together we can reach heaps of people and help create change around this important issue.
After you’ve signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others.
Graft for US military complex (weapon welfare) and suck up to the greatest scam of all (the Golden Condom) will not appease the US and – maybe – dial down the tariffs lunacy. The Trump’s “admin” is a naked mafia: never give in to ransom.
Get out of NATO. Get out of G7. Unhooked to US currency. Join the BRICS. Apologize to China and Russia. If Carney “believes’ in Canadian sovereignty, if will do so.
And I am for Claire Christie: “Provide a letter to Carney to sign, please.”
I agree!
“Canada must oppose weaponizing space and escalating the arms race.”