November 19, 2018 | Local, Aerospace
David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen
Neither Canada's top soldier nor the commander of the air force had or produced any records about a fighter jet “capability gap” in the year leading up to the Liberal government's announcement that such a critical issue had to be dealt with by spending billions to buy aircraft.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan used the capability gap argument in November 2016 to justify a $5-billion program to buy new Super Hornet jets, a deal since scuttled, and later a $500-million program to purchase used F-18 planes from Australia.
But in the year leading up to Sajjan's announcement about the urgent need to acquire such planes, neither Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance nor Lt.-Gen. Mike Hood, then head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, produced any documentation indicating there was ever a capability gap, according to Department of National Defence's Access to Information branch. In addition, no such documents exist among the records of various members of Sajjan's staff, according to the department.
It would be normal practice to have hundreds, if not thousands of pages of records, discussing such a key defence issue or gap if it existed, military insiders tell Postmedia.
But records obtained by Postmedia through the Access law do show that just before Sajjan's announcement that the 18 jets were needed in the “interim” to deal with the capability gap, the minister was told the existing fleet of CF-18s was in better shape than expected and could keep flying until 2032.
Conservative MPs allege the capability gap didn't exist and was concocted by the government to delay a larger project to buy new jets, a competition that might end up selecting the F-35 stealth fighter the Liberals vowed never to purchase.
When asked about the lack of documentation about the capability gap, a DND official said the department could not comment.
Taxpayers may get more information Tuesday when the Auditor General's office releases its examination of the fighter jet plan.
June 3, 2024 | Local, Land
This is my first opportunity to come to CANSEC. It’s a very, very well-done and impressive gathering of industry, public servants, partners and friends. As Canada’s Minister of National Defence, I draw great strength and encouragement by the crowd I see before me today and the conversations that we have shared.
July 12, 2023 | Local, Aerospace
A recent report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers says awarding Bombardier the CMMA contract would create a significant economic footprint in Canada.
February 22, 2018 | Local, Aerospace
OTTAWA — The federal government says Boeing has been approved to participate in an upcoming competition to replace Canada's CF-18s, though the U.S. aerospace giant says it still hasn't decided whether it will actually bid. Public Services and Procurement Canada says Boeing, which makes the Super Hornet jet, is one of five companies approved as potential bidders in the multibillion-dollar competition to deliver 88 new aircraft. Boeing had remained on the fence when asked whether it would throw its hat in the ring, saying it was waiting to see how the government would run the competition, which will formally kick off next year. The comments appeared to be in response to the government's plan to change future competitions for military equipment, including fighter jets, to penalize companies deemed to be hurting Canada's economic interests. The proposed change is believed to be a direct response to Boeing's complaints against Bombardier over the latter's C Series passenger jet, which were largely thrown out last month by the U.S. International Trade Commission. OTTAWA — The federal government says Boeing has been approved to participate in an upcoming competition to replace Canada's CF-18s, though the U.S. aerospace giant says it still hasn't decided whether it will actually bid. Public Services and Procurement Canada says Boeing, which makes the Super Hornet jet, is one of five companies approved as potential bidders in the multibillion-dollar competition to deliver 88 new aircraft. Boeing had remained on the fence when asked whether it would throw its hat in the ring, saying it was waiting to see how the government would run the competition, which will formally kick off next year. The comments appeared to be in response to the government's plan to change future competitions for military equipment, including fighter jets, to penalize companies deemed to be hurting Canada's economic interests. The proposed change is believed to be a direct response to Boeing's complaints against Bombardier over the latter's C Series passenger jet, which were largely thrown out last month by the U.S. International Trade Commission. http://ottawacitizen.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/government-approves-boeings-participation-in-upcoming-fighter-competition/wcm/37f57463-1987-47c3-9e9d-ddb2c2dbf338