Canadians like me recently learned that the Treasury Board had approved the purchase of the first 16 of 88 F-35 aircraft from the American company Lockheed Martin. Our tax money will be used to pay the bill, initially estimated at $19 billion, but which, according to experts, would amount to at least $76.8 billion if we consider the lifetime cost (on 30 years) of these 88 combat machines.
The latest news is that the cost will continue to be “refined” and that the first 16 jets will cost us $7 billion, which according to The Canadian Press is “about four times the cost of the publicly announced plane.” “. Apparently, buying a fighter jet is a lot like buying a car – there’s the advertised price, and then there’s the price after adding the little “extras”…like the doors. Given that 16 aircraft represent 18% of the total fleet, the initial cost for the entire fleet would therefore be 7 billion X 5.5 = 38.88 billion, more than double the initial estimate.
However, my concern in this matter is not so much the cost as the democratic principle.
Canada is still a democracy, at least on paper: where is the poll that shows Canadians want to spend $76.8 billion or more on lethal military machines capable of dropping atomic bombs?
Where is the referendum that asks us if we want to spend public money killing people abroad rather than tackling issues at home, like the pandemic, the housing crisis, poverty and the climate crisis? I have seen countless opinion pieces and letters from citizens opposing this purchase. A hundred Canadian personalities have signed a public letter of opposition.
In March 2012, 80% of Canadians who were aware of the Conservative government’s plan to spend at least $9 billion to purchase F-35 stealth jets believed the project should be scrapped. In 2015, not yet in office, Trudeau promised the purchase would never happen. Fast forward almost 11 years, to 2023, and the Trudeau government, true to form, said one thing and did another.
The people were right to reject the F-35 fighter jets!
- They are massively polluting and use very inefficient jet fuel. The F-35 burns 5600 liters of fuel within one hour of theft, which represents more than three times the consumption annual of a typical car.
- The F-35 planes themselves and the bombs they carry require rare earth metals and minerals, which means increased mining activity, environmental degradation and environmental racism. Let’s not forget that rare earth minerals are also needed to manufacture essential products and technologies, such as cell phones, computers, LED lamps and healthcare devices.
- Fossil fuel emissions are astronomical and would make it impossible to meet Canada’s climate goals. (The fact that our government does not recognize military broadcasts does not prevent them from contributing to global warming).
- When these F-35 planes crash, sometimes killing the pilot, they always release lingering toxic fumes into the air.
- The noise pollution that will be generated by these planes as they contribute to murderous acts will bring misfortune to nearby populations, be they people or wild animals.
- And finally, let’s not forget that these are weapons of mass destruction, the main purpose of which is to kill people directly.
We hear that the US has poured $100 billion into the war in Ukraine so far, but why wouldn’t it? War is good business for the 1%. Canadian taxpayers are footing a good chunk of the bill with the purchase of 88 fighter jets, and we are providing at least $1 billion more directly in military aid. It is only a fraction of all the military profit that is made because of this war.
Where are the people who are in favor of this purchase? There must be investors, banks, MPs, arms manufacturers and journalists who are very happy with this purchase and can tell us why it is a good idea! A public debate is needed, followed by a referendum so that Justin Trudeau, the leader of this nation democratic called Canada, can make a decision based on the will of the majority.