Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to rise today to debate our opposition colleague's motion concerning the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
I would like to begin by saying that I have the utmost respect for our colleague's questions. Like me, he wants to ensure that Canadians get the most out of our government's defence and aerospace investments and the resulting spinoffs. I want to reassure him today.
As usual, our government has done its homework and made the best possible decision to get the greatest possible benefits for the Canadian Forces, Canadian businesses and communities, and the Canadian people.
I believe that all of us in this House would agree it is time Canada had modern fighter jets to defend our sovereignty and properly support our various military operations.
Our current fleet of F-18 jets have served us well, but they are past their prime and need to be replaced over the next seven years. That is why we cannot afford to do nothing. It is our duty as the government to take action and make informed decisions, and that is what we are doing as we embark on the process to acquire state-of-the-art fighter jets.
On July 16, 2010, our government announced its intention to purchase 65 F-35 aircraft at a cost of approximately $9 billion. The first aircraft should be delivered in 2016, just before our current F-18s are mothballed.
There are a number of good reasons why we decided to go with this choice. First, the F-35 is the only one of a new generation of fighter jets that will give us interoperability with our main allies until the middle of the century. Experts are clear that in this ever-changing world, where nations from all around the globe are increasingly joining forces on more and more complex missions, that is a definite advantage when it comes time to coordinate our actions in various theatres of operation. We are talking about major allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Norway and Australia, with whom we frequently collaborate.
Second, considering that Canada is a partner in the joint strike fighter program, the acquisition of the F-35 also represents excellent news for the Quebec and Canadian defence industries. Because of our commitment to purchase this aircraft, the Canadian aerospace and defence sectors will have priority access to the competitive processes for the entire F-35 global supply chain.
This could translate into access to contracts for the production of no fewer than 5,000 aircraft throughout the world. We are talking about markets worth approximately $12 billion and more than 65,000 hours of work for people, which could benefit Canadians. And that is just for the aircraft purchased by our allies. Potential markets are even greater. I believe that this will be of great benefit to us. It represents an important advantage that rebuts the arguments underlying today's motion.
Furthermore, when we add to the mix the know-how and capabilities of Canadian industry, which can compete with the best in the world, we have every reason to look to the future with optimism. Our government is convinced that purchasing these fighter jets will open the door to important markets for Canadian businesses. This large door will be slammed shut on Canadian companies if we renege on our commitment.
It is important to remind members that Canada's participation in the joint strike fighter program has already had results. Since 2002, a total of 85 corporations, research laboratories and universities throughout the country have obtained contracts worth approximately $830 million owing to our involvement in this program. And that is probably just the start. For example, one week after our announcement last July, Avcorp, a Canadian company in British Columbia, signed an agreement for the production of the outboard wing of the F-35 carrier variant used by the U.S. Navy.
This agreement could represent over $500 million U.S. in revenues over a period of 10 to 15 years. Furthermore, it could help create about 75 direct and indirect jobs.
In Mississauga, Ontario, Honeywell International has signed a contract to develop a power thermal management system for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
As a Quebecker, I know from experience that my province will not be outdone. Quebec has a solid reputation for excellence in the aerospace industry that goes beyond our borders. All over the world, experts agree that Quebec has established itself as a key player in this industry.
In Mirabel, in the Laurentians, L-3 MAS was chosen to support Lockheed Martin in the development and implementation of a Canadian F-35 sustainment plan in accordance with the needs and direction of the Government of Canada. L-3 MAS will continue its collaboration with Lockheed Martin throughout the system development and demonstration phase of the program to highlight the support capabilities it can provide for the Canadian fleet of F-35s. Those are just a few concrete examples of the spinoffs our investments will have for the country.
As pointed out by the CEO of Héroux-Devtek, which has factories in Dorval, Longueuil and Laval, winning a bid in the F-35 project could help create jobs for his employees for a period of 20 to 25 years.
That is the advantage of participating in a program designed to allow NATO allies to procure the most technologically advanced fighter planes at the lowest price. This also proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Canadian government is making sure that Canadians get the best value for their money. Most importantly, however, this announcement also shows that our government is firmly committed to rebuilding the Canadian Forces and to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians in the future, while providing sustainable economic benefits to our major industrial sectors.
Our airspace is one of the largest in the world. We must do everything we can to ensure that it is fully protected. The F-35 is an ultra-modern, fifth generation aircraft that will allow us to do just that, while respecting our foreign policy and national security objectives. Furthermore, it the only aircraft of its kind currently available to Canada that can be built by an allied country and from which we can expect to receive tangible spinoffs.
Those are the undeniable facts that must be taken into consideration. We must face reality. Our F-18s are aging and will soon be outdated. The status quo is not a viable option. We have no choice but to make a decision now if we want our armed forces to be able to continue their essential activities and operations, both in Canada and overseas, in just a few years' time.
Not so long ago, in 1993 in fact, history taught us that cancelling a military procurement contract can have devastating economic repercussions and a very negative impact on the ability of our armed forces to properly carry out their duties. Our government has no intention of making the same mistake. It cost us too dearly the first time.
That is why I urge my colleagues in the House to reject this motion today and to support the government in its decision to give the Canadian armed forces modern fighter jets that measure up to the task, and at a reasonable price.