Politics
Canada has no nuclear weapons. After Trump’s Greenland threats, should it? – National TenX News
The prospect of renewed nuclear weapon stockpiling and global instability are spurring some countries to look more closely at nuclear protections — but Canada shouldn’t be among those, the defence minister and multiple experts say.
Questions about nuclear proliferation and deterrence have increased amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland and NATO, as well as the impending expiry this week of the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia.
Retired general Wayne Eyre, the former chief of the defence staff, told an event in Ottawa on Monday that Canada shouldn’t altogether rule out acquiring its own nuclear weapons, according to reports from the Globe and Mail and La Presse.
Asked about those comments while heading into a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada has “absolutely no intention” of doing so.
“Canada is a signatory to international treaties which preclude us, number one, and Canada has been a non-nuclear-proliferation state for a long time,” McGuinty told reporters.
“We are going to continue to build conventional weapons. We’re going to continue to re-arm. We’re going to continue to reinvest. We’re going to continue to rebuild our Canadian Armed Forces and we’re doing that.”
He said that work, with a particular focus on Arctic security, will “absolutely” ensure Canada’s military can operate independently from the U.S. even without its own nuclear deterrent.
The reports quoted Eyre as saying that Canada may never have true strategic independence without nuclear weapons, but adding that’s not something the country should pursue at the moment.
The discussion at the Rideau Club in Ottawa where Eyre made the comments, which focused on Canadian sovereignty and the limits of the country’s military autonomy, appear not to have been publicly broadcast.
Other experts caution that nuclear proliferation generally, and the idea of a Canadian nuclear arsenal in particular, should not be pursued further.
“Nuclear weapons are not the way to deal with growing uncertainty and danger around the world,” said John Erath, senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington, D.C.
“It’s not a good idea … and they contribute to the issue much more readily than they can resolve it.”
Alexander Lanoszka, an associate professor of political science at the University of Waterloo who studies international security, said the issue is not whether Canada has the scientific or resource capability to develop a nuclear weapon, but rather, “What are the strategic purposes, and what would be the strategic costs associated with doing so?”
“Frankly, even though there is a lot of concern about Russian adventurism, Chinese assertiveness, and whatever the United States is doing these days, the Canadian government has very, very little reason to go about such a costly endeavour as nuclear proliferation itself,” he said.
European nations have long relied heavily on the United States, including its large nuclear arsenal, for their defence and to deter possible land grabs from Russia.
Canada is no different, with the added value of being a geographic neighbour to the world’s second-largest nuclear warhead stockpile, just slightly behind Russia.
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However, Trump has demanded that NATO allies step up their military spending and take on more of the collective defence burden — even threatening to not come to the aid of those that don’t spend enough.
Trump’s recent push to acquire Greenland from Denmark, which he has since backed down from, has only further rattled the NATO alliance.
France and the United Kingdom, the only two European nations with nuclear weapons, signed a declaration last summer for closer nuclear co-operation.
That came just months after French President Emmanuel Macron said he was opening a “strategic debate” over creating a shared European nuclear umbrella in order to reduce reliance on U.S. nuclear assets within the continent.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that those talks had begun and that Germany was involved. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson made similar comments last month.
Like Sweden and Germany, Canada is a non-nuclear state and a signatory to the international treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The agreement bars signatories without nuclear arms from acquiring or producing them.
Commonly known as the NPT, the treaty serves as the foundation for the global disarmament movement. Canada has strongly supported the treaty since it came into force in 1970.
However, the treaty does not explicitly forbid the five nuclear power signatories — the U.S., Russia, China, France and Germany — from acquiring more weapons. It only urges them to negotiate an eventual global disarmament, with no set timeline to do so.
Erath noted the treaty has been successful overall, reducing the global nuclear stockpile from 70,000 at the end of the Cold War to around 12,000 today, a drop of over 80 per cent.
“The last 20 per cent are proving very difficult to get at,” he said — and now some countries are pushing to build more.
U.S. intelligence says China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and is on track to surpass 1,000 by 2030.
Trump, while announcing the U.S. would start testing its nuclear weapons for the first time in decades, said in October 2025 that China’s nuclear program will be “even” with America’s within five years.
Russia has also moved to grow and modernize its supplies and repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, as well as against Kyiv’s western allies.
The New START treaty, a key anti-proliferation pact between the U.S. and Russia, is set to expire on Thursday, sparking fears of a looming global arms race.
Trump indicated in an interview with the New York Times last month that he will let the treaty expire. He has not formally responded to a Russian proposal to keep observing the treaty’s missile and warhead limits for one more year to allow time to work out what to do after the pact expires.
Non-signatories to the NPT, like India, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran and Israel, are also believed to be expanding their various nuclear capabilities.
Why acquiring nuclear weapons wouldn’t be easy
Experts like Lanoszka and Erath said it would be unwise politically and diplomatically for Canada to try to leave the NPT and start pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
“I think any such statement will be met with a bewildered response” by Canadians and the world at large, Lanoszka said.
Also, he added, “The United States would be very disinclined to support any sort of independent initiative to acquire nuclear weapons” due to its desire to “control escalation risks” — particularly in its own hemisphere.
That would make it extraordinarily difficult for Canada to procure the equipment necessary to deliver a nuclear weapon, which would likely have to come from U.S. defence suppliers, he said.
Erath pointed out that nuclear threats and deterrence “are only effective if you are prepared to carry them out,” which also helps explain why nuclear fears are rising globally.
“The thought of President Putin being ready to carry out some of the threats he’s made is one that is quite frightening,” he said.
However, Erath argued that’s precisely why Canada should continue to co-operate with the U.S. on both collective deterrence and eventual disarmament.
“It’s a wake-up call, and there should be some dialogue on this,” he said. “If Canada feels that its security is not adequately provided for, as an alliance partner, it has the obligation to make these concerns known” to both the U.S. and NATO.
“I’m personally an optimist, so I think we will get back to … considering really meaningful reduction in nuclear weapons. You don’t need a lot of nuclear weapons to deter a potential adversary. It only takes one.”
— with files from The Canadian Press, The Associated Press and Reuters
The ex-girlfriend of Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid — who admitted live on television to being unfaithful in their relationship — has responded to his plea for forgiveness.
His ex-girlfriend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Norwegian tabloid VG, said it will be “hard to forgive” Laegreid for his actions and for choosing to publicly air his indiscretions.
“I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it,” she told the publication.
“We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this,” she added.
VG said it had contacted Laegreid for comment, but he did not wish to respond to his ex-girlfriend.
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Laegreid, a world champion biathlete and Olympic medallist, revealed shortly after finishing third in the biathlon — on live TV — that he had cheated on his now-ex-girlfriend three months into their six-month relationship.
“Six months ago, I met the love of my life — the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. Three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,” he said.
Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, reacts after he won bronze in the men’s 20-kilometre individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
Laegreid said Tuesday that he told his former girlfriend about his affair a week ago.
In her statement to the Norwegian outlet, she thanked those who had supported her since Laegreid’s revelation.
“To my family and friends who have embraced me and supported me during this time… also to everyone else who has thought of me and sympathized, without knowing who I am,” she said.
In a press conference shortly after his admission and bronze medal win, Laegreid told reporters he hoped he hadn’t ruined fellow teammate and gold medallist Johan-Olav Botn’s day.
“I don’t know if it was the right choice or not, but it was the choice I made,” he said. “I made the choice to tell the world what I did so maybe there’s a chance she will see what she really means to me — maybe not, but I don’t want to think I didn’t try everything to get her back.”
On Wednesday, Laegreid said he should not have used the moment to centre personal issues.
“I deeply regret sharing this personal story on what was a day of celebration for Norwegian biathlon,” he said in a statement issued by the Norwegian team.
“I am not quite myself these days, and not thinking clearly,” he said.
“My apologies go to Johan-Olav, who deserved all the attention after winning gold. They also go to my ex-girlfriend, who unwillingly ended up in the media spotlight. I hope she is doing well. I cannot undo this, but I will now put it behind me and focus on the Olympics. I will not answer any further questions about this,” his statement concluded.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has cancelled his planned trip to Germany for a global security conference in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., his office confirmed Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s Office statement also said Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson will be in Tumbler Ridge on Wednesday to lead the federal response to Tuesday’s deadly shooting.
“The Prime Minister is remaining in the National Capital Region at this time, and we can confirm that previously announced travel for the coming days has been cancelled,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement at noon eastern time.
Carney was due to travel to the Munich Security Conference on Wednesday evening after being expected to announce his government’s defence industrial strategy at an event in Halifax.
That announcement has been postponed until a later date, the PMO said.
In the immediate wake of Tuesday’s shooting, Carney’s office had initially said his planned travel abroad had been suspended “for the time being.”
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The Munich Security Conference is a key annual gathering for world leaders to discuss defence issues. Carney was originally due to stay in Munich until Sunday.
The PMO said Wednesday that Defence Minister David McGuinty, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon will travel to Munich on Carney’s behalf while the prime minister remains in Ottawa.
Nine people were killed in the Tumbler Ridge attack, including six people who were found dead inside the town’s secondary school and a seventh victim who died while being airlifted to hospital. Two other victims were found dead in a residence.
The suspected shooter was found dead with a self-inflicted injury, police said.
Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday that flags on federal buildings will be lowered to half-mast for seven days in honour of the victims.
“We will get through this, we will learn from this, but right now it’s a time to come together, as Canadians always do in these situations — these terrible situations — to support each other, to mourn together and to grow together,” he said.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Political leaders from around the world are expressing their condolences following the mass school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., that left nine people dead, as well as the shooter, and 27 injured.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says flags on federal buildings will be flown at half-mast for seven days to honour the victims of the shooting.
“Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, are waking up this morning, without one of their loved ones. It is a difficult time. Canada is grieving, grieving with you,” Carney said in a media scrum outside the Liberal caucus on Wednesday morning.
“We will get through this, we will learn from this, but right now, it’s the time to come together as Canadians always do in these situations.”
The prime minister also said he has heard from numerous world leaders following the tragedy with “solidarity and compassion.”
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra
“Our hearts and prayers are with the community of Tumbler Ridge and all of British Columbia today. My personal prayer is that in these difficult times, they find the peace and comfort that only He can provide,” Hoekstra posted to X.
A statement posted to X on behalf of King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the attack and expressed their “deepest possible sympathy” to those grieving the loss of their loved ones.
“In such a closely connected town, every child’s name will be known and every family will be a neighbor,” he said.
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“We can only begin to imagine the appalling shadow that has now descended across Tumbler Ridge and our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by this senseless act of brutal violence.”
The King also thanked the police and staff at the town’s health centre.
President of France Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that “horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the injured, and the entire educational community. France stands alongside the Canadian people,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy posted on X that he is “shocked” by the news.
“We are shocked by the news of the shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. When children are killed, no one should remain indifferent. Such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country in the world. We hope that all those who were injured will recover quickly,” he wrote.
“On behalf of all Ukrainians, I express our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones, to all Canadians, and to Prime Minister Mark Carney.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences in a post on X.
“Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada,” Modi wrote.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he sends “my sincere condolences to all Canadians impacted by this horrific event.”
“I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic attack in Tumbler Ridge secondary school,” his post on X reads.
“Australian hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims and we are all thinking of those injured.”
Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, shared a statement of condolence.
“This morning we received terrible news from Canada. The school shooting, which claimed numerous lives, has deeply shaken us. Our thoughts are with the people of Tumbler Ridge as they mourn their families, friends, and loved ones. I wish those who were injured a swift recovery,” Merz posted on X.
Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said his country extends their support.
Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the news has shaken many.
“We were deeply shaken by the news of the deadly shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, in which several people lost their lives. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, to the Canadian people — especially the residents of British Columbia and Tumbler Ridge — as well as to Prime Minister Mark Carney,” Plenkovic posted to X.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ex-girlfriend of Norwegian Olympian responds to cheating revelation – National TenX News
Carney cancels trip, sends ministers to B.C. after Tumbler Ridge shooting TenX News
World leaders react to ‘senseless’ Tumbler Ridge shooting: ‘Horror has struck’ TenX News
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