A former fighter jet pilot who has long been critical of American warplanes may now play a key role in Canada’s defense spending as the trade war with the United States escalates.
Stephen Fuhr, a former CF-18 fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force, now serves as the Minister of State for Defence Procurement.
After retiring in 2009, Fuhr faced ridicule from his military colleagues for his staunch opposition to the procurement of American-made F-35 fighter jets, as reported by CBC. Whether it was about fighter jets, radar aircraft, or helicopter replacements, Fuhr’s relationship with the Royal Canadian Air Force has been tense.
Currently, Fuhr leads the Defence Investment Agency of Canada, a government organization created by the Liberal government last year to expedite multi-billion-dollar military procurement.
In an interview with CBC, Fuhr stated that he is always ready to fight for his beliefs. He said, “I’m not afraid to stand alone on the mountaintop.”
Under the Liberal government’s C-31 bill, Fuhr may soon gain new powers as the head of the Defence Investment Agency to award single-source contracts to protect Canada’s “economic security.”
Justin Massie, a defense expert at the University of Quebec in Montreal, explained that the measures proposed in the C-31 bill call for the establishment of a “super minister” responsible for military procurement.
“He will have more power than the Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly, or Defense Minister David McGuinty, because he will consolidate many powers that are usually dispersed across multiple departments,” Massie said.
Against the backdrop of the government’s commitment to reshaping Canada-US military relations, Fuhr is poised to lead a significant increase in Canada’s defense budget.
Fuhr stated that he plans to thoroughly reform the military procurement system by either producing more equipment in Canada or seeking new global partners.
“We will become more resilient, less reliant on external resources,” he said. “The good news is that we have friends in every time zone, all of whom want to collaborate with Canada.”
Although many fighter pilots in Canada are staunch supporters of the F-35 fighter jet, Fuhr has always been a fierce critic of the aircraft.
“It may be a great plane, but it’s not suitable for Canada,” he said during an interview on CBC’s “Power & Politics” program in 2011.