Canada is buying some new planes. We are purchasing 65 F-35 fighter jets to patrol our skies. Canada is the second largest country in the world; our brave men and women in the Air Force need the best aircraft available to patrol our airspace.

Now, while our first concern was to get the best equipment to replace our F-18s, there are other benefits to buying these planes.

Since Canada is part of the F-35 fighter’s supply chain, businesses across the country will have the opportunity to bid on a wide range of contracts for everything from engines to airframes, systems and services for the 5,000 F-35s that our allies will be buying to upgrade their air forces.

Canadian expertise in advanced composites, assembly, electronic systems, high speed machining, tooling and simulation and training is already well known. The current estimate is that our companies will be able to bid on $12 billion worth of contracts.

We only need to think of the Sea King helicopter replacement fiasco to be reminded how previous federal governments failed to provide our troops, sailors and airmen with modern equipment.

I’m proud to say that the F-35 is a good buy for Canada, both now and in the future.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.