OTTAWA \u2014\u00a0How Canada will replace its fighter aircraft fleet and whether it continues its involvement in the Iraq war will be decided by the outcome of the country’s federal election in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At issue is whether Canada should move ahead with the purchase of the F-35 joint strike fighter or hold a competition for the multibillion-dollar acquisition for new planes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two of the three main political parties in the election<\/span> race \u2014 the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP)\u00a0\u2014 both<\/span> say that if elected, they will hold a competition, inviting international aerospace companies\u00a0to bid on replacing the existing fleet of<\/span> CF-18 fighter jets<\/span> fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Conservative Party, which has been in power for the last nine years\u00a0and had originally committed Canada to the purchase of the F-35, hasn’t yet outlined how it would proceed. In December 2012, the Conservative government, under continuing fire over questions about the increasing cost of the F-35 program, announced it would put the procurement on hold. That acquisition process has yet to restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense analyst Martin Shadwick said despite a potential price-tag of tens of billions of dollars for new fighters, the issue has not been discussed by the candidates for the Oct. 19 election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This election will shape how Canada’s next fighter jet is purchased, but defense issues are rarely discussed on the campaign trail and this election is no exception,” said Shadwick, who teaches strategic studies at York University in Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He noted the Canadian public is more focused on the country’s economy, which is in a recession.\u00a0Defense issues could emerge later in the election campaign but Shadwick said he doubts they will play a major role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The public is not looking for anything radical on defense from the political parties,” he explained. “They want to know there is an adequate defense capability and that it’s affordable.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The October election will also have an effect on Canada\u2019s mission against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)<\/span> group, often called ISIL, he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last In<\/span> October 2014<\/span>, the Conservative Party government committed a force of 600 Canadian military personnel, fighter jets, refueling tankers and surveillance aircraft to the air campaign against ISIL<\/span> the militant group. It also sent 69 special operationsforces<\/span> troops to train Kurdish troops in northern Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair said if his party forms the next government he would end Canada’s participation in the bombing campaign and withdraw all military personnel from the mission. The NDP would instead boost humanitarian aid to the region.\u00a0But Mulcair has suggested that if the United Nations or NATO takes command of the mission, Canada would consider further participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau has also said if his party forms the next government it would end Canadian participation in the bombing campaign but keep military trainers in Iraq. Canada would also increase humanitarian aid to the region, Trudeau added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper is suggesting that if he is re-elected as prime minister, the mission will be extended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n