Mr. Speaker, our government's investment in the F-35 program is a win-win for the Canadian Forces and the Canadian economy.
The forces will benefit by replacing the CF-18, an aircraft that will soon reach the end of its useful life, and Canadians will benefit from well-paying, highly skilled jobs for decades to come.
However, do not just take my word for it. Yesterday, CEOs from major Canadian aerospace companies confirmed that this investment would create thousands of high-quality jobs and investment across Canada for years to come. In fact, CEOs warned that delaying or cancelling this program would be devastating for Canada's world-class aerospace industry.
Greg Yeldon, president of Esterline CMC Electronics, said it best:
We want all parties to support the government's decision because it is in the best interest of all Canadians.
We urge all parties to put Canadian jobs first, support Canada's economy and get behind this crucial project.