Move Made To Avoid Political Fallout

The Canadian government has delayed a $12-billion purchase of military aircraft until after the next election, in order to avoid political backlash for purchasing foreign equipment. The purchase came under fire from Canada's conservatives, who said the government of Prime Minister Paul Martin was rushing the deal.

According to the Canadian Press, earlier this week cabinet ministers faced "passionate" aerospace lobbyists -- representing companies such as Toronto-based Bombardier -- who claimed the government was favoring aircraft from Italy and the US, intentionally shutting out entities closer to home.

The government responded by asserting Canadian manufacturers just don't have what they're looking for. "If you don't have it -- sorry... you can't design it," said a government official, commenting on the aircraft needed by the military.

Government officials maintain the decision to purchase such aircraft as Italy's Alenia C-27J SaR, and the US-made C-130 Hercules (below) and CH-47 Chinook helicopter, was based on such factors as performance, need and ability -- not on favoritism.

Critics charge military officials wrote the specifications for those aircraft so narrowly that only one or two vendors in each category would be able to respond.

Canadian authorities have now delayed the purchase until after the next election, which could be as soon as January for the current minority Liberal government, if defeated in the House of Commons by the opposition.

"It's unanimous - we're not moving with it now," an anonymous government official told the Press. "We're not moving with this before an election. It's all on the basis of the ferocious lobbying by industry. It's all Toronto-Montreal-Bombardier politics."

FMI: www.canada.gc.ca