The Feds are just plane stupid!

Sixty years ago the Liberal government decided we needed a new advanced fighter plane for the R.C.A.F.   They poured millions of dollars into the development of the fabled Avro Arrow amidst screams from the opposition over the cost of the new plane and inside deals.  The Conservatives were elected to form the next government and promptly cancelled the Arrow program.  The cancellation cost the federal government tens of millions of dollars in payouts without one plane to show for it.   Canada eventually leased substandard jets from the U.S. to take the role the Arrow was to perform.

Fast forward to the 1980s.  The Conservative government decided we needed a new helicopter for the Canadian Armed Forces.  They poured millions into a program to build the European EH-101 helicopters here amidst screams from the opposition over the cost of the new plane and inside deals.  The Liberals were elected to form the next government and promptly cancelled the EH-101 program.  That cancellation cost the federal government tens of millions of dollars in payouts without one helicopter to show for it.  Canada eventually bought EH-101 helicopters from Europe (we call it the Cormorant) to replace the Labrador helicopters for search and rescue.

Now to a few years ago.  The Conservative government decided we needed a new advanced fighter jet for the R.C.A.F.  They’ve poured millions into the development of the F-35 Lightning II amidst screams from the Opposition over the cost of the new plane and inside deals.

Does anyone else see a pattern here?