Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered the Ministry of Defence to review its contract with an American defence contractor for dozens of F-35 fighter jets, leaving the CEO of Quebec’s Bombardier concerned.
In an interview with the CBC, Defence Minister Bill Blair said Carney asked him to review the Canadian government’s contract to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin – America’s largest defence contractor.
Part of the review includes examining alternative options for purchase or whether Canada could substitute jets from another manufacturer.
“The prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada, to properly support them and maintain them in Canada,” said Blair.
Blair said that while it is not confirmed that the Canadian government will cancel or alter the contract currently held with Lockheed Martin and only promised to decide upon the review’s completion.
In 2023, the Trudeau government finalized their agreement to purchase 88 F-35 jets for $19 billion to be delivered from 2026 to 2034 despite pledging in the 2015 election to cancel the F-35 procurement process. So far, the Canadian government has paid for 16 of the F-35s.
The Carney government’s review of the F-35 contract comes after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian aluminum, steel, dairy, and lumber and has urged Canada to become the 51st American state.
In response to the Carney government’s reconsideration of their F-35 contract with Bombardier CEO Eric Martel told a Montreal crowd that he is concerned the United States government would retaliate with boycotts of Canadian contractors.
“Effectively, we could be targeted. This is my concern,” said Martel.
“I am there to defend Bombardier, but I understand why the new prime minister is asking these questions.”
Bombardier is a Quebec-based aerospace manufacturer that seeks and holds contracts with the United States military.
Bombardier is in the process of delivering 17 Global 6500 planes to the U.S. Army to help improve their aerial intelligence capacity. The deal has been reported to be worth $465 million.
During the original procurement process to replace Canada’s current fleet of fighter jets, the JAS 39 Gripen was one of the final alternatives to the F-35 that was considered, manufactured by the Swedish company Saab AB.
Saab offered to manufacture, maintain, and upgrade the Gripen jets entirely in Canada if the government opted for their jets, but the Trudeau government instead chose to purchase a full fleet of F-35s.
The trade conflict with the United States has led political leaders across the country to pledge to avoid awarding government contracts to American businesses and instead prioritize Canadian businesses that could provide comparable services.