OTTAWA — The federal government presented an ambitious reform of its defence policy Monday with a renewed focus on securing Canada’s arctic border and recruitment but that still stops short of hitting the two percent defence spending target expected of NATO partners.

The updated policy — called Our North, Strong and Free — promises $8.1 billion in further investments in Canada’s defence capabilities over the next five years in addition to major equipment purchases such as a new fleet of F-35 fighter jets and upgrading NORAD equipment.