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

2 Pregnant Women Among Seven B.C. Residents Who Test Positive For Zika Virus

B.C. Centre for Disease Control epidemiologist Dr. David Patrick says the two pregnant women are being monitored but so far no one among the seven people has required hospital treatment.

2 Pregnant Women Among Seven B.C. Residents Who Test Positive For Zika Virus

Carolyn Bennett Says Native Suicide Crisis Not Linked To Legalization Of Assisted Dying

OTTAWA — Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett says the move to legalize medically assisted dying has no bearing on the suicide crisis among young people in First Nations communities.

Carolyn Bennett Says Native Suicide Crisis Not Linked To Legalization Of Assisted Dying

Chilliwack Triple Murder: Coroner's Reports Give Timeline To Four-Person Murder-Suicide

B.C.'s coroners' service has released four reports that provide the timeline of events surrounding the 2015 deaths, which culminated in a fierce house fire in Chilliwack.

Chilliwack Triple Murder: Coroner's Reports Give Timeline To Four-Person Murder-Suicide

Paraglider Gets Entangled In North Vancouver Power Lines, Walks Away Uninjured

It was a close call for a paraglider in North Vancouver on Monday evening after he found himself tangled in power lines.

Paraglider Gets Entangled In North Vancouver Power Lines, Walks Away Uninjured

Police Investigating After Newfoundland Boy, 13, Finds Body In Woods Near School

Const. Geoff Higdon of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says there's no public danger as the investigation continues.

Police Investigating After Newfoundland Boy, 13, Finds Body In Woods Near School

Trudeau Says He Is Listening To A Tory MP Michelle Rempel's Complaints About Sexism In Politics

Calgary MP Michelle Rempel's recent op-ed in the National Post outlines how she has faced unwanted touching, catcalls, gender slurs and online abuse since she entered Parliament in 2011.