Caving to the U.S. ambassador

The decision to conduct a flypast on the Fourth of July employing two CF-18s and two U.S. F-35s begs the question of just how tone deaf the Air Force brass are in reading the mood of the Canadian public.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra’s successful request for a joint flypast with Canadian fighter jets on July 4, at a time when people are looking for pushback against American threats, raises questions, writes Scott Taylor.The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Opinion

BY SCOTT TAYLOR

August 17, 2026

OTTAWA—I was at home in Ottawa on July 4, and witnessed firsthand the flypast of two United States F-35s and two Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter jets flying in formation.

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