Our Conservative Government came to office promising to rebuild the Canadian Forces and treat our CF personnel with respect, and we are committed to ensuring that our Canadian Forces have the tools and equipment needed to do the job Canadians ask them to do.
Through the Canada First Defence Strategy, our Conservative Government is ensuring that Canada has a first-class modern military that is ready to protect Canadian sovereignty here at home, and contribute to the preservation of global security abroad. The recent announcement of the purchase of sixty-five F-35 Lightning II aircraft is the realization of one of our Government’s key commitments under the Canada First Defence Strategy. The F-35 purchase will ensure we can protect and patrol our own borders, as well as bringing unprecedented economic benefits to Canadian businesses across the country.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is a win-win for the Canadian Forces and the Canadian economy: Canada’s aerospace industry will benefit from highly skilled and well-paying jobs for decades to come, and the Canadian Forces will be replacing an aircraft that has reached the end of its lifespan. Canada’s participation in the Joint Strike Fighter program brings significant benefits to Canadian industry. With a long-term investment in this aircraft, Canada’s defence industry has a rare and unique opportunity to be a part of the Joint Strike Fighter global supply chain, benefiting from the sale of thousands of aircraft, as well as contracts with a potential value of $13 billion. This will bring high-tech jobs and sustained economic benefits to regions across Canada.
To date, our government has invested approximately $168 million in the F-35 program, resulting in more than $350 million in contracts awarded to Canadian companies, research laboratories, and universities. That’s more than a hundred per cent return on investment. In fact, every dollar invested in this program has the potential to gain $1.33 in return, and this investment is expected to bring sustained employment to Canadian companies across the country for the next 40 years. These benefits will translate into direct investment in the Canadian economy which will create and maintain Canadian jobs.
The Ignatieff Liberals, on the other hand, are threatening the jobs and livelihoods of the workers in the Canada’s aerospace industry by announcing they would cancel the F-35 contract if they formed government. This would usher in another “decade of darkness” for our men and women in uniform. What the Liberals and their opposition partners do not say is what they would do when our existing fleet of aging CF-18’s is retired.
Our Conservative Government has made a long-term investment in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter because it is - hands down - the best aircraft we can provide for our men and women in uniform to face the threats and challenges of the 21st century. Since forming government in 2006, we have been working hard to replace the Canadian Forces’ old, run down equipment with new, cutting edge equipment by:
Purchasing four C-17 Globemasters (strategic lift) aircraft;
- Purchasing seventeen C-130 J Hercules (tactical lift) aircraft;
- Investing $5 billion for three new fleets of land combat vehicles; and
- Investing $2.6 billion to acquire two new ships to support the operations of Canada’s Navy.
By providing stable, long-term investment in the Canadian Forces, our Conservative Government is contributing to improved economic security and stronger national sovereignty here at home, while helping to strengthen global security as a whole.
Our Canadian Forces personnel do tremendous work every day, under the toughest of conditions, and I am proud to be part of a government committed to providing them with the support that they need.
