SAINT-EUSTACHE, QUE. — Liberal Leader Mark Carney said Tuesday he wants a speedy review of the F-35 contracts, and downplayed reports that the review has not yet begun.
Carney pointed out he only issued the order a few weeks ago and he’s only been prime minister for about a month.
“That instruction will be carried out,” Carney told reporters at an election campaign stop in the Montreal area. “We’re in caretaker mode as a government. Our expectation of the civil service is that they are proceeding on these fronts. We’ll do it as rapidly as possible, as necessary.”
The Department of National Defence confirmed that the F-35 review has not yet started in an email response to The Canadian Press Tuesday.
“Discussions are ongoing to establish the scope of the review to ensure it is efficient and thorough, and determine timelines for the completion,” said Department of National Defence spokesperson Andree-Anne Poulin.
After U.S. President Donald Trump began his trade war with Canada and much of the world, Carney ordered a review of Canada’s planned purchase of dozens of F-35 fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas -- and threatened that Ottawa could turn to other manufacturers.
The previous Liberal government announced plans to purchase 88 F-35s for a total of $19 billion, although Ottawa has only committed itself financially to the first 16 jets.
“We’re taking delivery of a number of F-35s already under the existing contract,” Carney said. “What we’re reviewing, in effect, is the back end of the contract to ensure that we’re getting value for money, that we’re sure that we’re maximizing not just our ability to protect Canada, but the economic benefits here in Canada -- and we are considering it in the context of alternatives.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in French on March 20 that he would review the contract very carefully to ensure Canada’s “independence and sovereignty” is not at stake, but he would not want to make a decision that would simply delay purchasing the jets.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh vowed on March 16 in Iqaluit, to scrap the F-35 contract and look to build fighter jets domestically.
Carney’s first trip abroad after becoming prime minister was to Europe, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron -- who has been shopping around a buy-European defence pitch -- and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
He also has spoken with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and remarked at a press conference in London on March 17 that Canada is interested in the new EU defence procurement pact.
“That is of interest to us as Canada, as a potential alternative supplier,” Carney said at the time. “It creates the potential to create supply chains that meant that Canadian companies are participating in the development of these defence systems and we are actively exploring ... potential participation.”
The Swedish company Saab, which finished second in the competition for Canada’s jet contract, proposed assembling at least part of its Gripen E-series jets in Canada. Dassault, based in France, is also ready to pitch its Rafale fighter jets to any country looking to part with the American F-35s.
Carney said Tuesday it would be “exceptionally ill-advised” for the U.S. to sell its F-35 fighter jets with a mechanism that could allow the Pentagon to deactivate their functions remotely.
He pushed back on the widespread rumour that the manufacturer put something like a kill switch in the jets -- a rumour the Pentagon was forced to officially deny.
Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
With files from Kyle Duggan in Ottawa
