Will Canada buy new aircraft for the Snowbirds?

The Snowbirds fly past Parliament Hill on Canada Day in 2025. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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There was a flurry of accusations and counter accusations in the House of Commons on May 7 when Conservative MPs raised questions about the future of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds aerobatic team.

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Conservative MP Fraser Tolmie claimed that air shows across North America were being told the Snowbirds weren’t available for events in 2027 and this summer would be their final season. The Liberals, according to Tolmie and other Conservative MPs, were trying to hide the demise of the team.

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The government has confirmed that the current fleet of planes is approaching the end of its life, but has also promised an update on the future of the aerobatic aviation team, which is seen as a valuable public relations tool for the military.

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So will the Snowbirds fly into the sunset after this summer or get a new lease on life?

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Here’s what we know.

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The heart of the issue

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The CT-114 Tutor aircraft fleet operated by the Snowbirds is old and needs replacement. The cost for a new fleet of aircraft is expected to be significant, with some estimates coming in around $1.5 billion.

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The Tutor aircraft have been in the Canadian Forces inventory since 1963 and have been used by the Snowbirds since 1971.

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Some in the Canadian Forces have privately questioned spending money on the Snowbirds since it does not directly contribute to the RCAF’s combat capabilities.

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Has the future of the Snowbirds been in doubt before?

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Yes, a number of times.

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In 1999, Jane’s Defence Weekly, a military affairs magazine, reported the RCAF planned to eliminate the Snowbirds because of budget cuts. But the threat prompted then-prime minister Jean Chrétien to accuse the Department of National Defence of playing political games.

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“I’m never surprised that what they put in the window as a danger of disappearing [is] something that the Canadian people like,” Mr. Chrétien said of the proposal to cut the Snowbirds.

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In 2009, the RCAF warned the Conservative government it would have no choice but to shut down the Snowbirds if the government followed through with a five per cent cut to its budget.

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In both instances, the budget cuts proceeded and the Snowbirds kept flying.

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What alternatives have been proposed in the past?

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In 2002, the Canadian Forces put forward an idea that various federal departments should chip in to keep the Snowbirds flying since the aerobatics team provided a high-profile way to promote government policies. A study, produced for the air force leadership, noted that the public relations and promotional benefits provided by the Snowbirds went far beyond the defence department.

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The aerobatics team was not only an excellent recruiting tool for the military, but represented Canada at international events, they argued. Funding from other departments was not provided.

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In 2006, RCAF officers suggested that CF-18 fighter jets replace the Tutors. Using CF-18s would increase the ability of the team to perform around the world but reduce their availability for smaller venues in Canada that have runways too short to accommodate the jets. In addition, the CF-18s would be 20 times more expensive to operate than the Tutors, according to a RCAF analysis. The proposal was rejected by the RCAF leadership.