The Liberal government announced its long-promised pay increase for members of the Canadian military on Friday, unveiling a graduated series of salary top-ups and incentives that will help the lowest-ranking soldiers, sailors and aircrew the most.

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered the news during a media availability at the country's largest military airbase in Trenton, Ont., fulfilling a leadership and campaign promise.

The pay and allowance increase will cost $2 billion per year and the pay bumps are retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year in April. This spending is part of the additional $9 billion for defence that Carney announced earlier this year to meet Canada's NATO commitment.

Senior defence officials, speaking on background at a technical briefing prior to the pr

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