Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited the internment of Japanese- and Italian-Canadians during the Second World War on Monday as he urged caution in the face of growing calls for Canada to adopt a registry to track foreign influence efforts.

A new internal report by the Department of National Defence is casting a spotlight on a persistent problem undermining efforts to replace Canada's aging military equipment: a critical shortage of procurement experts.

Experts are warningthat, as the U.S., Britain and Australia move ahead on an expanded military pact,Canada's omission from that group suggests a larger problem with how this country is perceived by its friends.