Mr. Chair, will the contract specify that pilots must be trained here in Canada?
House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2025, with 29% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, will the contract specify that pilots must be trained here in Canada?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, even though negotiations have not concluded, the government has this $19‑billion estimate.
Does that estimate match what other countries are paying for the same plane?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, is the cost comparable to what other countries are paying or will be paying for the same plane?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, are those costs comparable to what other countries ordering F‑35s are paying or will be paying?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, the agreement I mentioned has been around since the 1950s and, although it has been amended, is still in force. I sincerely hope the contracts will include and respect it.
That said, the government estimates that the F‑35s will cost $19 billion, as the minister just said. I would like to know where that estimate comes from and if it includes a cost overrun.
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, I hope that the terms of the contract will be respected, but will this contract respect the Defence Development Sharing Agreement?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, will the terms of the contract ensure that the Defence Development Sharing Agreement is respected?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, this is not about advocacy. It is about saving very important, highly specialized, good-paying jobs not only for individuals, but also for the GDP as a whole, in both Quebec and Canada.
It is important to protect these specialized jobs during crises and shortages. Quebec's aerospace industry is equivalent to Ontario's auto industry. Our GDP needs to be protected just as much.
That said, according to the Defence Development Sharing Agreement between Canada and the United States of America, Canada is the United States' only industrial defence partner. It is therefore possible to require that F-35 maintenance be done here, in Canada. Will the minister demand that this maintenance be done here?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, of that 20%, how much of the benefits will go to Quebec, which is the backbone of the aerospace industry?
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Chair, even with the F-35 program, there are no guaranteed benefits for Canada's aerospace industry.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has confirmed that we could lose the contracts our companies currently have. Canada could spend tens of billions of dollars that will go directly into Americans' pockets. Is that not a shame?