YOU SAID IT: The slow F-35 scramble

THE SLOW F-35 SCRAMBLE

Below are my worries about the F-35 choice for Canada.

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When the Department of National Defence already had its eyes set on the ultimate fighter and was unable to sole source it, it did what every government department does, and that is to write the criteria (which were seen to favour the F-35) needed in an aircraft to match the F-35. It happens all the time.

Here are four of the overwhelming reasons to instead buy the Swedish Gripen that I have not heard addressed: extra cost for the F-35 hangers and storage; the fact that the Gripen parts will be readily available if they are assembled in Canada; the length of runway required would be much less (the Gripen can take off on a dime); and the biggest area of concern, namely the flying availability when required. For the F-35, it’s about 50 per cent of the time, and for the Gripen it’s about 80 per cent.

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Mind you, we could ask whoever is attacking us to give us a couple days until all our planes are ready to go.

WAYNE BOYCE
CARLETON PLACE

TRUMP POWER NAPPING?

Those wackos who claim U.S. President Donald Trump is sleeping during high-level meetings are just fake snooze!

TERRY TOLL
CAMPBELL’S BAY, QUE.

INANE ANTI-PIPELINE ARGUMENT

Re: National projects put Indigenous women in danger: Avi Lewis, online, Dec. 2

NDP leadership hopeful Avi Lewis was quoted as saying that the pipeline work camps are “big, manly things” that would negatively affect Indigenous communities.

Wow, that has to be the most inane argument against a proposed pipeline that I’ve ever heard.

As a conservative, I really hope Lewis wins the NDP leadership.

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MIKE SHURTLIFF
KANATA

OVERDUE LIBRARY

Re: Ādisōke, Ottawa’s landmark library, won’t open in 2026, online, Dec. 2

The Confederation Bridge took about four years to build. The Rideau Canal took about five years.

So, why is it taking all this time to build Ottawa’s new library?

Bureaucratic bungling? Is it part of the Jimbo Watson legacy? Pure incompetence?

All of the above?

And you wonder why your taxes are so high.

TIM BAKOS
MISSISSIPPI MILLS

HAVE YOUR SAY

Your letters are welcome, at: OttSun.Oped@sunmedia.ca. Include your first and last name AND city/town. Keep your letters short — and please try to be civil, even when criticizing or disagreeing. We edit for accuracy, length, clarity and legal concerns.

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