Ottawa defends single-sourced $16B jet purchase to replace CF-18s
Posted July 16, 2010 5:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay calls it an historic day.
The Harper government confirms it’s spending $16-billion on 65 new fighter jets for the Canadian Armed Forces to replace the aging CF-18s that recently underwent a $2.6 billion upgrade.
But the deal isn’t without criticism.
For $16-billion, critics said the government should have done some shopping around the Lockheed Martin deal was signed without competitive bids.
MacKay had assured Parliament there would be a competitive process for the selection of new planes, but cabinet decided to go with an untendered contract.
He said the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the only jet that meets the needs of the military.
“This aircraft is the best aircraft we can provide to our men and women in uniform and this government is committed to giving them the very best,” MacKay said.
He said nearly 100 Canadian companies and thousands of workers will enjoy the economic spinoffs.
“Benefits that will link Canadian industry to the global supply chain and benefits that will produce high-tech jobs right across the country,” he explained.
The total value of the contract is expect to rival the amount spent by the Conservatives four years ago when they rolled out a series of high-profile military purchases of transport planes, helicopters and armoured trucks.
Ottawa will take delivery of the first jet in 2016.
