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The federal defence minister will travel to Moose Jaw to give an update on the future of the Snowbirds later this month.
The opposition Conservatives accused the Liberal government of plans to try and ground the air show based out of Moose Jaw on Thursday.
Moose Jaw MP Fraser Tolmie had heard from organizers who said they were told by the government they couldn’t book events for the 2027 season.
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“The Snowbirds are obviously Canada’s team,” he said. “They are uniquely woven in to the fabric of not only Saskatchewan, but also to the city of Moose Jaw.”
When 980 CJME sent a request for comment to the Snowbirds, a response came from National Defence Minister David McGuinty, who said he would visit Moose Jaw for an update on May 19.
“Canadians can rest assured that they will be able to enjoy the Iconic Snowbird formation for generations to come,” McGuinty said.
The Snowbirds fly during an air show performance in Moose Jaw in 2024. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Tolmie, a former mayor of Moose Jaw, said he would sign-off every year for the Snowbirds to fly down Main Street of the city when returning from a Canadian tour.
“That was one of the inspirational things that visitors would see,” he said.
The Snowbirds were established in 1971 as the Royal Canadian Armed Forces official aerobic team. The team fly’s shows across North America during spring to fall.
The CT-114 Tutor jets have had safety and maintenance concerns before. In 2021, the federal government had invested $30 million to keep the aging fleet operating until 2030.
Tolmie said he didn’t understand why the government was pressing pause for five years now.
“They’re going to cancel them, after putting all that money into them that was supposed to extend the service life of them,” he said. “There are justifiable dollars here.”
The Snowbirds white smoke trails form a heart in the sky. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Tolmie scrutinized the decision in the House of Commons during question period on May 7.
McGuinty said the jets are approaching the end of its life, but would continue to fly as long as they were safe to operate. Tolmie wasn’t satisfied with the response.
“The minister is fumbling the football here. He doesn’t have a straight answer. He’s been caught with his pants down,” he said. “I would be more satisfied that they’ve purchased new jets and that they’ve got a plan going forward.”
The Snowbirds have an airshow in Saskatchewan set for July 11 in Moose Jaw.
– with files from the Canadian Press
