Conservatives taken to task, again, on F-35 fighter program plans

OTTAWA - The minister in charge of buying equipment for the military insists that he and the country's top air commander are on the same page when it comes to where Canadian F-35 fighter pilots will be trained.

Julian Fantino maintained under opposition questioning that he and Lt.-Gen. Andre Deschamps have been consistent in their public statements.

The minister told the House of Commons on Nov. 4 when the issue was first raised that "long-term training on the F-35s will take place in Canada, just as currently is done with the CF-18s."

Deschamps was far less categorical in both an interview with The Canadian Press and an appearance before the Commons defence committee, where he said "at some point" the air force would like to bring the training back to Canada from Florida — but there was no set plan and it depends on budget considerations.

Both the New Democrats and Liberal seized on that to accuse Fantino of misleading the Commons and the public.

Fantino responded by painting the opposition as being desperate in its bid to discredit the fighter jet purchase program.