OTTAWA-
Swedish fighter jet maker Saab accuses Ottawa of not following the rules regarding its plan to buy 88 F-35s.
The federal Liberal government announced in March that the F-35 had beaten Saab’s Gripen in a multibillion-dollar competition to select a replacement for Canada’s aging CF-18 fighter jets.
Ministers at the time said the government would enter into final negotiations with the US government and defense equipment manufacturer Lockheed Martin to determine the final cost, delivery schedule and economic benefits for Canada.
But in a parliamentary committee appearance this week, Saab Canada chairman Simon Carroll said there should be no negotiations because those details should have been included in Lockheed Martin’s offer.
Carroll, whose company remains in contention if talks between Ottawa, Washington and Lockheed Martin break down, went on to accuse the government of not following its own guidelines in staging the competition.
In a statement, Public Services and Procurement Canada says it is following established rules for bidders to ensure a good deal for Canada.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on September 30, 2022.