The on-again, off-again export tariff tiff between the U.S. and Canada is prompting calls from some for Canada to reconsider more than $20 billion in contracts for two military aircraft procurements. Canada has committed to buying 88 F-35 fighters and 16 P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance platforms but a rising sense of uneasiness with the U.S. has forced senior government officials to defend going ahead with the contracts. “We’ve gone through a long process of selecting the F-35 fighter jet. We remain committed to that," Defence Minister Bill Blair told reporters in early February just after the threatened 25 percent tariffs on almost all Canadian exports to the U.S. were paused. "My job was to make sure that the American industry and the American government understands the importance of our shared responsibility and relationship in getting that job done.”
Canada use to be the go to country for legendary DeHavilland Aircraft. Canada was once a powerhouse of General Aviation. Still think of the wooden structure Mosquito as one of the best engineering stories in aviation history. So many WWII aviation accomplishments from Canada, they need to look inward again.
When Canada gets serious and works to stop the flood of illegals and drugs across its border, and they elect the great Pierre Poilevre as PM, the tariffs will be unnecessary. Just look at the drug problems in Vancouver, BC, leading to all the homeless that drive away tourism, just a short distance from the U.S. border. I’d bet that every PT6 turboprop produced in Canada will not operate without software that Justin Trudeau controls from his iPhone, an American creation, BTW.
Nervous state of patriotism? I’d say that’s an understatement. Canadians are actively seeking non-American alternatives in everything they buy from lettuce to automobiles to travel. This boycott, and it’s getting louder each day, is on top of all counter-tariffs that Canada will put on U.S. goods as a result of Trump. I expect it will take some time for this to be felt, but it will cost jobs and impact business in the U.S. Meanwhile, Canada will source as many goods as possible from other countries and ramp up new Canadian businesses and create new products made in Canada to replace U.S. ones. Those U.S. jobs and products won’t be coming back.
The incredible disrespect, talk of take-over and lack of gratitude for Canada’s friendship, and sacrifices a reliable battle/defense ally have galvanized Canada to an almost “war-footing”. 40 million Canadian consumers, the 7th largest economy, are very pissed. Like almost every European country has already stated, over and over, the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner and ally.
I’m still trying to understand what’s behind all this insanity.
Bombardier wanted the job that the P-8 got from Canada.
But apparently, to my surprise, it hadn’t made a surveillance aircraft before - so time to delivery and risk were a question. And the P-8 may be more versatile, able to transport people and supplies, for higher cost I presume.
Saab is one of several sources of business jet based surveillance aircraft. I recall USAF have Bombardier-based special mission aircraft.
There are great options with the Swedish Gippen E/F, Korean Boramae KF-21s, or the French Rafale F5 would mean less dependence on the US. Also, from what I hear, the cost of flying the Gippen is good compared to the F-35s. Seems like it would be a safer option all around as the US seems to be friendlier to the Kremlin these days.
I think talk of a 51st state is just to raise awareness of the trade imbalance between our two countries. Folks should simply calm down and consider that Trump (and better than half of the American population) simply wants to even out the imbalance.
Unfortunately the trade imbalance is over-hyped - about 8%
U.S. total goods trade with Canada were an estimated $762.1 billion in 2024. U.S. goods exports to Canada in 2024 were $349.4 billion, down 1.4 percent ($5.0 billion) from 2023. U.S. goods imports from Canada in 2024 totaled $412.7 billion, down 1.4 percent ($5.9 billion) from 2023. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada was $63.3 billion in 2024, a 1.4 percent decrease ($926.9 million) over 2023. Source: Office of the United States Trade OfficeCanada | United States Trade Representative
But of the the $412billion exported from Canada, $124 billion is crude oil. That crude oil is not a consumer good to Americans, it is refined in US refineries then exported abroad for profit to American refineries. It simply passes through the U.S. and creates jobs and profits. As you are probably aware the U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of oil.
So net out the crude numbers for a moment and you’ll see that the U.S. actually has a trade surplus with Canada in goods and services. Canadians buy more stuff from Americans than the other way.
The “Gripen” meets all the Canadian requirements and comes with a price tag that is 3/4 of the F35! Nevertheless, Canada’s decision to go with the F35 (rather than the J39), in January 2023, was based on three premises: 1) Sweden’s membership in Nato was (at the time) in question… 2) Canada’s long-time trade relationship… especially as it relates to military equipment… with the United States should be honoured… and 3) the F35 can be remotely controlled from an undisclosed location in the U.S. Presumably, the “kill-switch” was put in place in case such a piece of advanced aviation technology should fall into “enemy” hands. The 3 arguments… no doubt… seemed good at the time… in 2023… but one of them is no longer valid (Sweden is part of Nato) and the other two surely seem questionable now!? Should Canada take the risk?
Why in God’s green earth would any country buy military hardware of any kind from a country that is threatening its existence. Ukraine should buy jets from Russia? Or Taiwan from China? Canada should put in place a ten year moratorium ( at least)on any purchase of military equipment, parts or systems for the RCAF, RCN, OR Canadian Coast Guard. Any and all current contracts should be cancelled. There is nothing we buy from the U.S. that we cannot get from allies in Europe, Asia or Oceania.
Our Prime ministers past (JT) and present (MC), Ministers, Premiers and MPs have encouraged Canadians not to spend their money on U.S. goods. The least they can do is follow their own advice. No F35s, No P8s, No Wedge tails and no Drones. U.S. whisky is off our shelves and U.S. aircraft are off our shopping list
Don’t forget Avro Canada. The CF-105 Arrow was an awesome plane killed by Canadian politics. The designers ended up migrating south and working on the Apollo moon missions. Canada does need to do something to get their NATO defense spending up from 1.4% to 2%, and reconstituting a company like those could be the ticket.