Real Change: A New Plan For a Strong Middle Class (page 70)

« The Canadian government intends to make a payment this spring to remain part of the consortium of F-35 Lightning fighter-jet buyers, despite a Liberal election promise to exclude the aircraft when selecting this country’s next warplane. The move raises questions about whether the Liberal government is reconsidering its ban on purchasing the controversial F-35 jet. »

(The Globe and Mail, February 24, 2016)

« Prior to the election, Trudeau said the Liberals would not proceed with the F-35 purchase and would instead run an open competition, with savings from a cheaper alternative set aside to rebuild the navy. The Liberals have been quietly backing away from that position, with both Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Procurement Minister Judy Foote pointedly refusing to exclude Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s U.S.-based manufacturer, from the competition. »

(Toronto Star, April 29, 2016)

« Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet reportedly discussed the issue last week, and while no formal decision was taken, one top-level official said: “They have made up their minds and are working on the right narrative to support it.”

Rather than a full replacement of the air force’s aging CF-18 fighter fleet, it’s believed the purchase will be labelled an interim measure to fill what Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has warned is a pending “gap” in Canada’s military capabilities. »

(National Post, June 5, 2016)

« The Trudeau government has missed the deadline for a multimillion-dollar payment that keeps Canada in the club of nations involved in the F-35 stealth fighter program, CBC News has learned.

The $32-million membership fee was due on May 31, but a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan confirmed late Monday that the U.S. project office overseeing development of the highly complex jet has not received the instalment. »

(CBC, June 7, 2016)

« Canada intends to purchase 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighter jets and, while the Liberal government says it has a rough idea what that might cost, it stopped short of claiming its plan will save money in the long run. (…)Tuesday, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced the Liberals would proceed with the purchase of 18 Super Hornets, in addition to holding a competition for the replacement of the CF-18 fleet later. The government noted that the F-35 could be selected as the winner for that competition if the price is right. »

(National Post, November 22, 2016)

"Canada has quietly paid another $54 million toward the development of the F-35 stealth fighter jets, bringing its total investment in the controversial project to roughly half a billion dollars over the last 20 years."

(Global News, May 30, 2018)

"The federal government confirmed on Monday that it will maintain its membership in the F-35 consortium. At the same time, Ottawa is getting ready to send out requests for proposals for new fighter jets to five potential bidders, including Lockheed Martin.

Under the rules of the F-35 consortium, however, partner countries such as Canada must forego such regional offset programs, which have long been a central element of Canadian military acquisitions. Earlier this year, Canada paid $54-million to remain in the F-35 buyers’ pool.

“We’re keeping our involvement alive to get access to that product at the best possible terms,” Pat Finn, an assistant deputy minister at the Department of National Defence, said in an interview on Monday. “If the F-35 were to win, the lowest cost access to the aircraft is through the partnership. Having been involved from the outset, we don’t want to lose the privilege of that.""

(The Globe and Mail, October 29, 2018)