Moose Jaw city council seeking answers on future of Snowbirds

City of Moose Jaw councillors are looking for answers from the federal government regarding the future of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds following last week’s announcement that the squadron will be grounded after the 2026 season.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Patrick Boyle brought forward a motion asking the city to express its support for continued investments in national defence and initiatives that strengthen 15 Wing Moose Jaw, including the Snowbirds.

Read more:

• Snowbirds’ final hometown airshow sells out in 18 minutes
• Former Moose Jaw mayor ‘heartbroken,’ upset over Snowbirds grounding
• ‘Won’t be the same’: Former Snowbirds commanding officer disappointed with airshow hiatus

Boyle also asked council to seek clarification from the federal government on several key issues, including the timeline for procurement and operational deployment of replacement aircraft, the funding framework for the replacement program, measures to minimize the operational gap between the retirement of the current fleet and the introduction of replacement aircraft, and the long-term sustainability and presence of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron in Moose Jaw.

The motion passed unanimously.

Council also authorized Mayor James Murdock to send correspondence to the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence.

City of Moose Jaw councillors are looking for answers from the federal government regarding the future of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds following last week’s announcement that the squadron will be grounded after the 2026 season. (Discovermoosejaw.com)

Concerns over uncertainty

On May 19, federal Defence Minister David McGuinty announced in Moose Jaw that the Snowbirds and their CT-114 Tutor jets would be retired following the 2026 show season.

The Tutor aircraft are set to be replaced by the CT-157 Siskin II, also known as the Pilatus PC-21, which is expected to become the future aircraft for the Snowbirds.

“The announcement that was made at that time was positioned as a positive one, as there was a renewal for the Snowbirds,” said Boyle.

“Our community, I can say, unequivocally, would support that in every way, shape or form. But the reality was that within that announcement was great uncertainty.”

According to McGuinty, the Snowbirds are not expected to resume performances until the early 2030s while the federal government procures the replacement aircraft.

“What the reality with the announcement was, shutting down the Snowbirds after this season,” Boyle added. “That, for us in Moose Jaw, is a pretty serious thing, to walk into town and shut the Snowbirds down like that.”

Snowbirds deeply connected to Moose Jaw

Boyle pointed to a 2021 investment of $30 million into upgrades for the Tutor jets’ cockpit avionics systems, which he said was meant to extended the aircraft’s operational lifespan until 2030.

“The Snowbirds are a symbol of Canadian aviation and, at a time when we’re trying to encourage significant recruitment and retention in the Canadian military, for obvious reasons, walking in and sort of shuttering the program on short notice without a meeting with the community, without any consultation, I find it a little dangerous,” Boyle said.

Over the years, the Snowbirds have become deeply woven into Moose Jaw’s identity. The Moose Jaw Warriors feature the Tutor aircraft in their logo, while murals and displays honour the squadron throughout the city.

“As a kid who grew up on the farm just outside of Moose Jaw, I grew up sitting there in a grain truck watching the Snowbirds fly every single summer,” Boyle said.

“It was a regular thing, you got used to it, you’re connected to it.”

Boyle said he’s concerned those community connections could disappear after 2026.

Council supports call for clarity

Dawn Luhning also voiced support for the motion, saying clarity from the federal government is needed.

“I think everybody in our community wants that clarity around the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and so I welcome the motion and appreciate Councillor Boyle bringing it forward,” said Luhning.

It remains unclear how many aircraft will be ordered or what the total cost of the replacement program will be.

During the transition period, the Royal Canadian Air Force says it will continue participating in air shows and public events across Canada using other aircraft and personnel.

Long history of aerial demonstrations

Over the past 55 years, the Snowbirds have performed more than 2,700 air displays for more than 140 million spectators across North America and overseas.

The team has flown from Inuvik to Guadalajara, Mexico, and from Victoria to St. John’s.

Currently, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron includes 86 regular force, reserve force and public service personnel, including 56 regular force members who will continue contributing to Royal Canadian Air Force operations and modernization projects during the transition period.

The Royal Canadian Air Force has operated aerobatic teams since the 1950s. The Snowbirds were officially established in 1971 as the Canadian Forces’ official aerobatic demonstration team.