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New Democrats say the federal government should immediately cancel the order for 88 American F-35 fighter jets and instead buy Swedish-built Gripen planes “to defend the Arctic in partnership with like-minded allied countries.”

“We are here today to send a clear message to Prime Minister Mark Carney. If he meant what he said in Davos, then Canada cannot buy a single F-35. We do not come to this decision lightly,” NDP defence critic Lori Idlout (Nunavut) told reporters at a Feb. 4 press conference in Ottawa.

NDP interim leader Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.) said in the same conference that they are calling on the government to “move swiftly” to negotiate an agreement with Saab to purchase 88 Gripen aircraft instead.

The 2023 deal with American defence contractor Lockheed Martin for 88 jets has a projected cost of $19-billion, while the project's total life-cycle cost is expected to reach $70-billion. The first four jets are slated to be delivered in 2026, with the full fleet to be complete by 2032. The new jets would replace this country's aging CF-18s. Canada has made a legal commitment of funds for the first 16 jets.

“At a time when the Trump administration is threatening our sovereignty, attacking Canadian workers, increasing tariffs on our industries, and interfering in our domestic and foreign policies, going through with any F-35 orders is simply unacceptable,” Davies told reporters.