Article content continued

I was engaged in idle speculation with a defence analyst last week about the CF-18 replacements.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has said that a new statement of requirement for the jets will be released — one that is likely to effectively block any chance of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 being chosen, in line with the Liberal Party’s campaign commitment.

We discussed the options available. In the analyst’s opinion, it came down to Boeing’s Super Hornet, Saab’s Gripen and Dassault’s Rafale, with the last two being better placed to last into mid-century.

He acknowledged the problems of inter-operability with the U.S., if the Canadian military picked a European jet. The advantage, he said, was that both European manufacturers could “Canadianize” their planes by making them here.

The conversation suddenly became less idle. “You mean the entire plane could be made in Canada?” I asked.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

“In theory,” he said. “In fact, Saab has signed a deal to make the Gripen in Brazil, through Embraer.”

That’s Embraer, Bombardier’s rival in the regional jet market. That’s Bombardier, currently engaged in a life or death battle for survival. Bombardier, where “money goes to die,” to quote Kevin O’Leary.

Ottawa is looking for “creative” ways to support the company. Bombardier has a $400-million funding gap over the next two years and has asked the federal government for help.

Could Ottawa bolster the ailing plane-maker’s order book by directing a massive fighter jet contract its way?