By Ken Pole | November 30, 2015 Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 36 seconds.
Judy Foote told the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s 2015 Summit her marching orders include working closely with industry. Liberal Party of Canada Photo
Public Services and Procurement Minister Judy Foote has made it abundantly clear that the new Liberal government is counting on the aerospace sector to remain “a key component of the innovative economy that is essential to our country’s future growth.”
In her first public speaking engagement since being sworn in Nov. 4, she told the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s just-concluded 2015 Summit that her marching orders from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau include working closely with industry “to ensure that defence procurements are streamlined, fair, effective and transparent.”
Her “mandate letter” from the prime minister states, among other things, that federal procurement processes must not only “reflect modern best practices” but also be open and transparent.
Following up on Trudeau’s election campaign promise to revisit the issue of replacing the Royal Canadian Air Force’s remaining fleet of Boeing CF-188 Hornet fighters, the letter requires Foote to work with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains on relaunching that program.
On aerospace in general, Foote said she hoped for “close collaboration with your industry” and she noted that the Liberals had been “pretty clear” during the prolonged general election campaign about their defence commitments.
“Our goal is to ensure that Canada’s Armed Forces have the equipment they need to protect our sovereignty and support peace operations, while also growing local economies,” while ensuring “that equipment is acquired faster, and with vigorous parliamentary oversight.”
Foote added that success would require close cooperation with the aerospace sector, not only within individual procurements but also in general through groups such as the AIAC. “I will do this as minister, and I will encourage officials in my department to continue to do so as well.”
