Peter MacKay Says He Regrets Failure To Buy New Fighter Planes

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Jun, 2016 11:43 AM

OTTAWA — Former Conservative defence minister Peter MacKay says he regrets his government didn't move ahead to replace Canada's aging fighter jets.

MacKay says new planes are badly needed and the F-35 is the right choice.

The Tories had pegged the F-35s as the replacement for the existing CF-18s, but the process bogged down over costs and technical concerns.

The Liberals said they wouldn't buy those planes and instead promised to hold an open competition to find a new jet.

But in order to fill what they say are capability gaps in the Royal Canadian Air Force, they may sole-source a different aircraft.

MacKay says the Lockheed-Martin F-35 still beats other planes on the market when it comes to meeting Canada's needs.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Sentence Ending For Medicine Hat Woman Who Murdered Her Family When She Was 12

The woman is now 22, but can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Sentence Ending For Medicine Hat Woman Who Murdered Her Family When She Was 12

Edmonton Won't Try To Lasso More Canadian Finals Rodeo Events: Mayor

A deadline to bid for a 10-year contract to hold the Canadian Finals Rodeo has come and gone.

Edmonton Won't Try To Lasso More Canadian Finals Rodeo Events: Mayor

PM Justin Trudeau Apologizes For Blaming Opposition Parties For Electoral Reform Delay

Justin Trudeau has apologized for suggesting opposition parties are to blame for the delay in setting up a parliamentary committee on electoral reform.

PM Justin Trudeau Apologizes For Blaming Opposition Parties For Electoral Reform Delay

Self-Driving Cars Could Be On Roads In 5 Years

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says working with Google convinced him that self-driving technology is closer than he thought and could be on the road in five years.

Self-Driving Cars Could Be On Roads In 5 Years

Justin Trudeau Invited 44 People, Including Mom, To Accompany Him To Washington

OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau took a small army of 44 people with him for a three-day visit to Washington last March, at a cost of more than $25,000.

Justin Trudeau Invited 44 People, Including Mom, To Accompany Him To Washington

Western Premiers Meet, Discuss Pushing Feds To Restore Disaster Funding

As wildfires burn uncontrollably across northern Alberta, government leaders in Western Canada are meeting to discuss pushing Ottawa to reverse historic funding cuts to disaster-mitigation programs.