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National Defence

Question period focused on the decision to ground the Snowbirds aerobatic team after the 2026 season, with members raising the possible loss of about 80 jobs at the squadron. Conservative members asked whether anyone had consulted the squadron about flying the current jets until 2030, why the replacement would be propeller planes rather than jets, and whether government procurement delays could keep the team grounded for years. The government said it is committed to keeping a nine-plane Snowbird formation and is buying new aircraft for the team and for pilot training, to be based in Saskatchewan and ready by the early 2030s, following the advice of Royal Canadian Air Force experts. Conservatives also quoted a Saskatchewan Liberal secretary of state describing the grounding as a happy event; he replied by criticizing the Conservatives’ record and pointing to increased Saskatchewan farm revenue.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Fraser Tolmie

Conservative
“The defence minister is grounding the Snowbirds after 2026, and their crews are losing their jobs. Experts say these planes are safe to fly until 2030. I want to know if anyone asked the squadron if they could keep flying until 2030.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after much hype, the Minister of National Defence paraded the Snowbirds in front of the media for all of Canada to see. He then shamefully announced that the Snowbird team was grounded after the 2026 season and that the people behind them were losing their jobs. Which Liberal government was wrong, the one that spent $30 million to keep them flying or the one that is prematurely grounding them? Both L3Harris and Magellan Aerospace, who inspected the jets, say the Tutors are safe to fly until 2030. Was the squadron ever asked if the team could fly until 2030?

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Fraser Tolmie

Conservative
“The Snowbirds have flown jets for 55 years, but the government is replacing them with propeller planes. Government delays will also keep them grounded for years. Who decided not to buy jets?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if they are safe to fly now, why are they not safe to fly next year? The Liberal government took over a decade to sign the F-35 contract, which is now under review and delayed. If the Snowbird replacement follows that timeline, the team will not fly again until the 2040s. For 55 years, the Snowbirds have been a jet team. The replacement the minister has announced is a propeller aircraft. Who made the decision not to pick jets?

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Jeremy Patzer

Conservative
“The only Liberal member from Saskatchewan made light of the Snowbirds being grounded.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Rural Development, the only Liberal MP in Saskatchewan, called the grounding of the Snowbirds and the potential loss— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Jeremy Patzer

Conservative
“A Liberal MP was happy that the Snowbirds were grounded and jobs might be lost. The Snowbirds are a Canadian symbol. I want to know why the government is breaking its promise to keep them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Rural Development, the only Liberal MP in Saskatchewan, called the grounding of the Snowbirds and the potential loss of 80 jobs a very, very joyous and happy event. Given his track record for 26 years as an MLA, including eight as a cabinet minister for the NDP, this is not surprising. He destroyed our province for a generation, and he is living up to that record so far in his first term in Ottawa. The Snowbirds are a Canadian icon, so why are the Liberals not keeping their promise and keeping this national symbol?

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