Golden Dome signals change to Canada’s long-time opposition to joining U.S. missile defence

President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Golden Dome missile defence shield at the White House in Washington in May.

Mark Carney’s decision to work with Donald Trump on an advanced missile shield – what the President calls the Golden Dome – will set the stage for deepening military co-operation between the two countries.

It’s a stark difference from 20 years ago, when Canada opted to stay on the sidelines as the United States developed and bolstered defences against ballistic missiles – measures that today include ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California.

In February, 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority Liberal government publicly announced that it would not participate in President George W. Bush’s ballistic missile defence (BMD) program. Critics at the