Trudeau vows to scrap the plan to purchase the F-35 and open a new procurement competition. He says the plane is too expensive and the procurement process was flawed. The money saved will be put towards the navy.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...ifax-1.3235791
Quote:
The Liberal Party will scrap the Conservatives' troubled F-35 fighter jet program should they assume government, Leader Justin Trudeau announced in Halifax today.
"Our Canadian Forces are in a state of stagnation," Trudeau said to a crowd of supporters at Pier 21 in Halifax, home to the Canadian Museum of Immigration.
In its place, the Liberals said they would launch an "open and transparent competition" to buy more affordable planes to replace Canada's aging CF-18 jets. Trudeau said the money saved by scrapping the F-35 procurement would go primarily to increasing spending on the Royal Canadian Navy.
The primary mission of our fighter aircraft, Trudeau said, is the defence of North America.
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Personally, I think people need to take more of the long view with our next fighter jet. It will have to be our primary front line fighter for the next 40 years at least. I would like for our pilots to have the best equipment possible which means a 5th generation plane. It gives them the best chance to make it home safely from hostilities.
As for the cost, I'm not sure if people are more upset about the cost of the program or the fact that the numbers when first presented were deliberately misleading.
Cost - $44 billion over the course of 40 years, likely 45. So less than $1 billion per year, representing around 5% of our
current military budget to have 5th generation fighter jets. Good deal.
Deliberately misleading $ figures - Politicians consistently lie or bend the truth about the cost their programs.