QUESTION PERIOD — Public Services and Procurement
Acquisition of Fighter Jets
May 23, 2024
My question is directed to Senator Gold.
In 2015, this government vowed not to go through with the previous government’s plan to purchase new F-35 fighter jets to replace aging CF-18s at the cost of $9 billion. But in 2022, this government announced that it would be purchasing 88 F-35s for $19 billion. Experts question whether F-35s and similar manned aircraft are now the right fit for handling current military conflicts — and whether the Royal Canadian Air Force has enough pilots trained to fly them.
Further, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reports that aircraft are being delivered with multiple known deficiencies requiring retrofit repairs, all at additional cost.
Is this government confident that the procurement of those F-35 fighter jets is still the right choice?
Thank you for your question. It is my understanding that the government continues to believe that the procurement of 88 F-35 fighter jets is appropriate and necessary to give our Armed Forces the planes they need to ensure our national security and defence, and so Canada can play its role with its partners in defending our northern sovereignty and the North more generally.
The costs are huge, but the need is huge as well, and the government remains confident that this was the right decision for our Armed Forces and our country.
The 2024 budget did not mention funding for the new F-35s. The Parliamentary Budget Officer previously noted that these jets will cost an extra $53.8 billion for operation and sustainment. How much has this government allotted to the lifetime of these jets, including operations, staffing, recruiting and retraining Canadian Armed Forces, or CAF, pilots?
I don’t have the figures at all on hand. Our defence budget has grown year over year since this government took office. It has made and will continue to make significant investments, which will include all aspects — not only the hardware but also the training and support necessary to make it effective.
