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Snowbirds

During members’ statements, Conservative MP Fraser Tolmie raised the future of the Snowbirds aerobatic team based in Moose Jaw. He said the Defence Minister had announced in Moose Jaw that the team’s jets would be phased out, despite what he described as $30 million spent to keep them flying until 2030, and that they would be replaced with propeller aircraft without a clear plan, putting jobs at risk. He called on the Prime Minister to reverse the decision so the team keeps flying jets.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

1 statement

Fraser Tolmie

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government is grounding the Snowbirds' jets even after spending $30 million to keep them flying until 2030. The minister wants to replace them with propeller planes without a clear plan, costing the team their jobs. I want the Prime Minister to reverse this decision so Canada keeps its jet team.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on May 19, the Minister of National Defence came to Moose Jaw, home of Canada’s Snowbirds. He paraded the Snowbirds team out in front of the media and used them as his backdrop. Then he announced that the team were now losing their jobs. This is one of the most un‑Canadian things the people of Canada have ever witnessed happen to our military, and Canadians are disappointed with this behaviour. The Liberals have sat on this file for over a decade. The Tutors are being grounded after $30 million was spent to keep the jets flying until 2030. Both L3Harris and Magellan Aerospace have said the Tutors are safe to fly. Now, out of nowhere, the minister has announced a replacement aircraft that has propellers but with no timeline, no number of planes, no in-service date. The Snowbirds Alumni Association calls this profoundly disappointing. So does Moose Jaw, and so does Canada. Canadians deserve a jet team. The Prime Minister can make this happen by reversing his decision.

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