Raymond J. de Souza: Nine reasons the suspension of the Snowbirds is distressing

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds, which have been put on "pause" following the end of this year's exhibition season, fly over Kingston while en route to the Gatineau Airshow in Kingston, Ont. on Sept. 11, 2025. If the state apparatus cannot keep an aerobatic team in the air, what can it do, asks Fr. Raymond J. de Souza. Photo by Elliot Ferguson / Postmedia

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The Snowbirds will be suspended after this summer’s program of aerobatic exhibitions, not to return until “the 2030s” when new planes are available. The news was distressing on nine levels — one for each Snowbird.

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First, it highlights Canada’s multi-generational, bipartisan incapacity to handle military procurement. It took nearly 20 years to replace the aging Sea King helicopters. Fighter jets and icebreakers have been fouled up, and this week non-deployed soldiers were asked to return rucksacks and tactical vests as there is a shortage for personnel in the field. Embarrassing.

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Canada’s procurement problems are not inevitable; the Halifax class frigate modernization program was a success 10 years ago. But how could something as small scale as the Snowbirds (nine planes plus reserves) not have been adequately planned with time to spare?

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Second, there is the related matter of accountability. The failure is complete if the Snowbirds are entirely shut down for lack of suitable replacement planes. What is the consequence for that? Are those responsible for such a fiasco to be identified and held to account? There was no indication of such at the announcement this week.

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Third, only last year Canada committed to a massive increase in defence spending, including a pending announcement for new submarines. Does it not erode our projection of new might if we cannot keep a dozen unarmed aerobatic planes aloft?

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Fourth, does the leadership of our Armed Forces, civilian and military, fully comprehend the importance of the Snowbirds? Prime Minister Mark Carney, when asked about the Snowbirds suspension, acknowledged that they are “part of our heritage, like the (RCMP) Musical Ride.”

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Yes, they are. That does not inspire confidence, though. Just two years ago, an RCMP audit identified serious troubles in morale and recruitment that pose a potential crisis for the Musical Ride. Now the Snowbirds are in an actual crisis.

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Fifth, Carney first said that “we inherited” the Snowbirds situation, before correcting himself to say, “I inherited.” He made it clear that he regards himself — on this file as on many others — as not in continuity with Justin Trudeau’s government, but a correction to it.

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Most welcome, to be sure, but shouldn’t the basic machinery of government — keeping the Snowbirds in the air — be something that doesn’t require the personal attention of the incumbent prime minister? Shouldn’t the default position of the Snowbirds be airborne? And they would only be grounded as the consequence of a specific policy direction of the prime minister or minister of defence, not just as a matter of neglect and indolence?

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Sixth, and related, this is another manifestation of a crisis of Canadian confidence in state capacity. Can we get emergency rooms to function? Can we get infrastructure projects approved? Can we control disorder in our parks and public spaces? The Snowbirds failure underscores that even a discrete, limited program with foreseeable resource needs is beyond our state capacity. If the state apparatus cannot keep an aerobatic team in the air, what can it do?