Canada’s Minister of Defence Procurement, Stephen Fuhr, expressed confidence that the government has no current intention to back out of the agreement to purchase American-manufactured F-35 fighter jets while 16 planes are in production. Fuhr mentioned in an interview on CBC’s “Rosemary Barton Live” that a decision regarding the contract will be made when deemed appropriate.
The Canadian government had previously struck a deal in 2023 with Lockheed Martin, a U.S. defense corporation, to procure 88 F-35 jets. However, amidst escalating trade tensions with the U.S., former defence minister Bill Blair hinted at a potential reevaluation of the purchase.
Fuhr emphasized that Prime Minister Mark Carney will decide on the contract timing, highlighting that the 16 F-35s are currently at various stages of manufacturing. He dismissed any suggestions of aligning the F-35 contract with Canada’s trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing Canada’s sovereignty in decision-making.
Recently, the government introduced the Defence Investment Agency to streamline military equipment acquisition processes. Carney mentioned that the agency will collaborate more closely with international partners like the UK, Australia, and France to diversify procurement sources.
Fuhr highlighted the agency’s autonomy and capability to expedite military equipment acquisitions, emphasizing its structured approach for success. He also hinted at the possibility of diversifying the Canadian fleet with European aircraft like the Saab Gripen for enhanced operational flexibility against potential threats.
Regarding defense spending commitments, Fuhr expressed optimism in accelerating procurement processes, potentially leveraging commercial contracting methods to expedite acquisitions in line with Canada’s NATO pledge to allocate two percent of GDP to defense by 2025-26. He underscored the importance of utilizing efficient procurement procedures to enhance the speed of military equipment acquisitions.