J.L. Granatstein: Buying F-35 fighter jets are in Canada’s interest—regardless of what America says

The Carney government has pledged to have 12 submarines built in either South Korea or Germany. The submarines are apparently only to have very limited under-ice capability, but they will still be useful when they come into service in the mid-2030s—if the RCN can recruit the necessary 3,000 or so sailors and train them to operate this new undersea flotilla. There are pledges to complete an Arctic port, something first promised by the Harper government, but even then, this port will be operable only in the summer months. There are plans to have more army units based in the North, but this requires the construction of bases, the provision of specialized equipment, and training. This too will take time. To put it simply, there is very little Ottawa can do to persuade the Americans that Canada is doing its part to secure the Arctic. This is where the Lockheed Martin F-35s come into play. The U.S. Air Force has two squadrons of F-35s in Alaska, and these 54 aircraft operate under NORAD. Capable of operating as fighters or strike aircraft, the F-35 is thought to be the best such aircraft available anywhere. Canada has been part of the international consortium involved in building the fifth-generation F-35 fighter bombers since the beginning of this century, and Canadian firms, building parts, have earned hundreds of millions of dollars. Ottawa has bought and paid for 16 of these aircraft and has 72 more on order, but this transaction has not yet been confirmed. The Carney government, intent on diversifying its defence purchases, ordered a study to determine if the RCAF should acquire the remaining 72 F-35s or the Swedish Saab Gripen fighters that are cheaper to purchase and to operate. Saab has also said that it will build a factory in Canada to fulfill an order for its fighter. The RCAF has left no doubt that it wants the more expensive F-35, its argument being that the Gripen is much less capable, and that a small, understrength air force cannot easily operate and maintain two different fighters. Ottawa’s decision on which aircraft to purchase is expected soon. The F-35 must be the choice because nothing else will persuade Washington that Canada is serious about credibly contributing to North American defence through NORAD. The Gripen is a good airplane, but to the Trump administration, it is much less capable than the F-35 and, most importantly, it is not American. If the F-35 purchase is cancelled, Canadians will cheer the Carney government for standing up to the American bully, but this will be an error. It will likely embolden the hawks in Washington to claim that the United States must take responsibility for the defence of all of the North American Arctic. So much for Canadian sovereignty. Much as patriotic Canadians will surely hate a decision to buy American fighters, there is no real alternative choice. Prime Minister Carney must complete the F-35 purchase and use it to maintain both Canada’s sovereignty over our North and the nation’s bargaining position with Washington.