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Harper government’s defence of the F-35s, a look back
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Canada Politics
The Harper government's decision to publicly backtrack on plans to buy 65 state-of-the-art F-35 fighter planes is truly remarkable.
For almost two years, this government vehemently defended the need to purchase the fighter jets. It even insisted, despite growing evidence to the contrary, that the price per plane would remain at about $75 million. Harper's gang didn't just support the F-35 program, it chastised, ridiculed and name-called those who questioned it.
As a result, critics seem to be savouring the government's F-35 retreat.
Can you really blame them?
Let's take a look back at the government's defence of the plan.
Nov. 23, 2010:
"If it was up to the Liberal/NDP coalition, they would cancel the F-35 program and put hundreds of Winnipeg aerospace jobs in jeopardy."
"These contracts are being negotiated and signed right now. Cancelling this deal and spending years dithering, as the Liberal/NDP coalition would have us do, would be devastating to the tens of thousands workers in Canada's aerospace industry and the hundreds based here in Winnipeg."
—Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, Winnipeg
April 26, 2011:
"Many of the reports you're citing are comparing apples to oranges. Our experts have put out their detailed figures and everything we've seen is within those figures and their contingencies — the contingencies that have been allowed."
—Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Quebec, in response to reports the F-35s would cost more than initially thought
Nov. 8, 2011:
"We will purchase the F-35. We're on record. We're part of the crusade. We're not backing down."
—Associate Minister of National Defence Julian Fantino, Fort Worth, Texas
Oct. 18, 2011:
"There is no fifth generation aircraft other than the F-35 available to Canada and the United States."
"All of the hypothetical discussions and quite negative discussions, quite frankly, about this program are really just clatter and noise. This program is going ahead."
—Minister of Defence Peter MacKay, Halifax
March 13, 2012:
"We have not, as yet, discounted the possibility, of course, of backing out of any of the program."
—Associate Minister of National Defence Julian Fantino, Ottawa
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