Ministers comment on cost of F-35 fighter jets, Bill C-5, defence spending – June 10, 2025

Ministers speak briefly with reporters on Parliament Hill as the federal cabinet holds its weekly meeting. Ministers Mélanie Joly (industry), François-Philippe Champagne (finance) and David McGuinty (public safety) face questions on the newly-tabled report by Auditor General Karen Hogan detailing the cost overruns for the American-made F-35 fighter jets. Joly, Champagne and McGuinty also comment on the government’s recent announcement that it will meet its NATO defence spending target of 2 per cent of GDP this fiscal year.

Steven MacKinnon (government House leader) and Julie Dabrusin (environment and climate change) respond to questions on Bill C-5, the government’s new legislation on bolstering trade between the provinces and territories and moving forward with major infrastructure projects of “national interest.”

Steven Guilbeault (Canadian identity and culture) reacts to comments made by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith from a radio interview where she described the creation of new national parks as a potential obstruction to the establishment of new pipelines.

Evan Solomon (artificial intelligence and digital innovation) faces questions on what his ministerial mandate comprises.

Anita Anand (foreign affairs) announces that the federal government, in concert with the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, will impose sanctions on Israeli Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for facilitating “extremist settler violence against civilians” in the West Bank.

Joël Lightbound (government transformation, public works and procurement) comments on the Auditor General report that outlined that federal agencies did not following procurement and security rules when awarding contracts related to the ArriveCan app.

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