Debates of May 19th, 2022

Public Works and Government Services—Main Estimates, 2022-23

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Minister, we know that Lockheed was allowed to bid after the government changed existing ITB rules requiring 100% offsets. Innovation, Science and Economic Development decided to allow F-35 to submit a best-efforts ITB proposal that would be negatively scored, because it was unable to guarantee benefits. Does the minister agree with that?

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member should address all questions and comments to the Chair please.

The hon. minister.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, what I agree with is the heavy weighting that was given to economic benefits. I think that this was very important, and there are procedures in the process that are set up in order to ensure that those economic benefits are honoured.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, the minister knows that, as a member of the consortium, Canada gets the F-35 at the same price as the United States in the year of purchase. Can she confirm that is correct?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, we are in the negotiation phase. We are very pleased that the process was competitive, and we know that we are going to get the best price based on a competitive process.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, as I just stated, that is already set as part of the consortium agreement. Does the minister actually suggest that somehow Canada is going to be able to have a different process than the others in the consortium when it comes to price?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, what is being worked out right now are the details of that process so that, in this finalization stage, those intricate details are being written to sign a contract so that we know exactly what we are receiving.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, can the minister confirm that Canada is purchasing a block of F-35 fight planes from the scrapped Turkish purchase of Block 3 aircraft while the latest model, the Block 4, is unavailable; in other words, a less capable fighter?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, one of the advantages with this process is that we are getting the latest and greatest plane. We are delighted that, in this procurement and in this investment that we are making, we will be getting the latest and greatest F-35.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, some $15 billion in defence spending was included in the budget but not declared or attached to anything. Can the minister tell us why, and what is that for?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, that is a question for defence. Defence is looking at what its needs are, and we look forward to the department asking us, as procurement, to fulfill those needs.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, that is a non-answer.

The government's future surface combatant program has grown in cost from $60 billion to an estimated $100 billion. Has the government given any thought to an off-the-shelf, foreign purchase?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, I strongly support the national shipbuilding strategy. We are creating jobs here in Canada. I had the opportunity to visit one of the shipyards, and I can tell the member that the work being done there by Canadians is absolutely phenomenal.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, does the minister know that those ship designs have gone from 5,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, I know that there have been amendments, yes.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, does the minister know that the combat system has been declared “U.S. eyes only”, and that all the Canadians working on the combat system have been let go?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, I can say that I saw workers in action. The national shipbuilding strategy is putting Canadians to work, and I am happy about that.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, does the minister know that all maintenance on the combat systems will be done in the United States?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, I am happy to support the national shipbuilding strategy, and they are going to provide us with the ships that we—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, right now, CAE does Canada's military pilot training. Does the minister support CAE and training pilots at home by a Canadian company?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, I am not sure where the member is going with this, but of course we support Canadian companies across the board.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, does the minister know that the future aircrew training program has been weighted for either an Italian or a British company to win and train pilots outside Canada?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Madam Chair, these contracts are all subject to the procurement process, where there are negotiations that go on and we try to get the best price and the best value for Canadians.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Chair, is the government prepared to lose all those Canadian jobs at CAE, and its partners, to training Canadian pilots in Europe?