The Air Force’s latest pipe dream

As an ‘observer,’ Canada will have no decision-making role in the Global Combat Air Program, and we are not committing any resources to the deal.

While Defence Minister David McGuinty and the Air Force head both pontificate about joining a pipe-dream sixth-generation fighter program, very real decisions need to be made now regarding actual fleets to replace our old CF-18s, writes Scott Taylor.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY SCOTT TAYLOR

July 27, 2026

OTTAWA—Last week, the big defence story making national headlines was the announcement that Canada has become the first observer nation to sign on to the Global Combat Air Program.

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