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Joly says Canada 'didn't get enough' benefits out of F-35 procurement deal

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Nov, 2025 11:24 AM

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says the Liberal government believes Canada "didn't get enough" industrial benefits out of its contract for American-made F-35 stealth fighter jets.

Talking to reporters on Parliament Hill today, Joly said the government needs "more jobs created out of the F-35 contract."

Her comments come as the Swedish firm Saab considers whether to set up shop in Canada to build its Gripen fighter jets in response to a spike in demand from Ukraine.

Joly says the Swedish defence company is pitching production that could create 10,000 jobs in Canada — but Ottawa will have to kick the tires on the offer.

The federal government has committed to buying the first 16 F-35A jets made by Lockheed Martin out of a planned purchase of 88 to replace Canada's aging fleet of CF‑18 Hornets.

But the Liberal government launched a review of the rest of the procurement of 88 F-35s in the spring, after U.S. President Donald Trump initiated a trade war with Canada.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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