PRINCE GEORGE- It was less than eight years ago when Justin Trudeau made a campaign promise to not buy F-35 fighter jets.
This past Monday, that very same Liberal government announced that they would be investing 19 billion dollars in 88 F-35 fighter jets.
After almost ten years of debate, the F-35 is coming to Canada. An investment that was long overdue in the eyes of one northern MP.
“We’ll be getting the best fighter in the world,” said Bob Zimmer, the PG-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP. “It is at a hugely increased price from when we were looking at the F-35 ourselves. So again, pleased with the acquisition, but alarmed by the costs.”
The 19 billion dollar fighter jets is the largest investment into the Royal Canadian Air Force in thirty years. The 88 planes ordered by the government will be delivered in phases with the first delivery scheduled for 2026 and the idea to have the full fleet by 2032.
Zimmer also mentioned that these aircraft will be helpful for artic security, national sovereignty and Canada’s peacekeeping efforts.
