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National Defence

Question period dealt with national defence, focusing on the F-35 fighter jet purchase and an Auditor General report on ammunition shortfalls. Conservatives said past prime ministers, including Justin Trudeau, managed to make deals with the United States, and that the Air Force and Canadian workers want the F-35s, asking the Prime Minister to negotiate. They also cited the Auditor General’s findings of unreliable ammunition inventory data with a 13% error rate and slow delivery times, asked that the Auditor General appear at the defence committee, and pressed the government to release Canada’s required ammunition levels, NATO targets and a timeline, arguing the announced spending would not meet NATO stockpile needs quickly. The Liberals said they are procuring across the military, rebuilding bases, and will take the time needed on the fighter fleet; they accepted the Auditor General’s recommendations and pointed to $1.4 billion invested in domestic ammunition production, a defence industrial strategy listing ammunition as a priority, higher defence spending, and what they described as faster procurement, while asking Conservatives to support that spending at committee.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

James Bezan

Conservative

Linked statement

“Our military and workers want the F-35 fighter jets. Past leaders made deals with the United States to get them. I want the Prime Minister to stop putting on a show and negotiate this deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here are the facts. Every prime minister before this one got a deal done with America. Even Justin Trudeau signed a trade deal with Trump. Trudeau also finally ordered the F-35s. Let us be clear. The Royal Canadian Air Force wants the F-35s. The Canadian Armed Forces wants the F-35s. Over 1,000 Canadians who are already working on them want Canada to buy the F-35s, but the Prime Minister would rather play political theatre. Canadians did not elect a performer this time. They were promised a negotiator. Will the Prime Minister quit acting and finally get what our military needs?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“We are buying equipment and rebuilding bases across our military. We are looking at new fighter jets for the air force. We will take the time we need to make the right choice.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are procuring right across the Canadian Armed Forces family. The member is aware of this. We are rebuilding our bases. We are buying hardware, we are buying materiel, we are supplying kit, and yes, we are looking at a fighter fleet for the Royal Canadian Air Force. We are going to review this procurement approach, as we have, with discipline. We are going to take the time we need to get it right.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“The government's mistakes are hurting Canada's security. A new report shows the military has bad records on its ammunition, with an average error rate of 13 percent, and deliveries take an average of 19 months. I want the government to let the Auditor General speak to the defence committee right away to explain this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals’ mismanagement is undermining Canada’s security. In her latest report, the Auditor General found that a significant portion of the Department of National Defence’s ammunition inventory data is unreliable, with an average error rate of 13%. Worse still, it takes an average of 19 months between the time a contract is signed and when the goods are delivered. Will the Liberals support our call for the Auditor General to appear before the Standing Committee on National Defence without delay and provide a full account of the situation?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“We accept all of the Auditor General's recommendations and are reviewing the report. Ammunition is critical for our military. That is why we invested $1.4 billion to make more ammunition in Canada, opening new plants in Ontario and Quebec that create jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we would like to thank the Office of the Auditor General for its work. We are carefully reviewing the findings and accept all of its recommendations. Ammunition is a critical component of Canada’s military readiness. That is why we have invested $1.4 billion to expand Canada’s domestic ammunition production capacity and support Canadian industry. New manufacturing facilities in Ontario and Quebec are increasing our production capacity while creating good jobs here at home.

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Jeff Kibble

Conservative
“The military does not have enough ammunition to meet NATO requirements or properly arm our soldiers. I want the minister to release our required ammunition levels, our NATO targets, and a timeline to meet them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General confirmed critical ammunition shortages and NATO ammunition requirements not met. The Minister of National Defence told Canadians, “we have progress to make, and we’re making it.” Well, I have heard of our soldiers on the front lines in Latvia going on patrol with no ammunition in their rifles, backed by only a few days of artillery shells should tensions erupt. The minister has failed to properly arm our forces and failed to meet our NATO commitments and, most importantly, failed to defend Canada’s sovereignty. Will the minister immediately table the required ammunition levels, Canada’s NATO requirements and a timeline to meet them, yes or no?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“Ten months ago, we made producing ammunition a top defence priority. The previous Conservative government did nothing to build or produce ammunition. We are making progress and supporting our military.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, some 10 months ago, we stood up Canada’s first defence industrial strategy. One of the 10 priorities for the country was to move forward in ammunition production. The member is aware of this. By the way, where was the former Conservative government on ammunition production? There was not a single deal, not a single site, not a single manufacturing installation, no joint ventures, absolutely nothing. We are moving forward. We are making progress. We are looking after our forces.

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Jeff Kibble

Conservative
“The government's plan buys too little ammunition, and it will take years to meet our NATO requirements. The minister did not answer my question. I want him to show our required ammunition levels, our NATO targets, and the timeline to meet them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government announced $9.2 billion over 13 years for ammunition. That only buys about 7,800 artillery shells a month, if nothing else is purchased. In Ukraine, they are firing about 180,000 a month. At this rate, it will take years to meet our NATO stockpile requirements. My question was about the requirement, not history. The minister failed to answer my question, so I will ask it again. Will he immediately table the required ammunition levels, Canada’s NATO requirements and the timeline to meet that plan, yes or no?

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Stephen Fuhr

Liberal
“We are buying planes, submarines, radar, and ammo faster and spending more money on the military than Canada has in generations. I want the Conservatives to vote for military spending at committee instead of opposing it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a very good reason why that member does not want to talk about history, and I think we all know what that reason is. We have never moved faster on the procurement for our military of aircraft, subs, radar and ammo. This is the most we have spent, and the fastest we have moved, literally in generations. We could use the Conservatives’ support. What would be beneficial is if at committee they would support the supplementary estimates by voting for spending money on our military, something that member refuses to do.

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