Canada's military will soon be getting new medium-lift helicopters and unmanned surveillance drones, Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced on Thursday.
At a press conference in Longueuil, Que., MacKay said Ottawa will lease up to six Russian-made choppers and later buy six used U.S.-made Chinook helicopters. Those choppers, manufactured by Boeing, will have the ability to transport both troops and equipment.
The short-term lease of the Russian helicopters through the Toronto-based Skylink includes a contract for pilots for the choppers.
But the government did not say much about who will be piloting the helicopters that will be carrying Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, which worries the opposition.
"We don't know who these pilots are," Liberal defence critic Bryon Wilfert told Â鶹´«Ã½. "They may be very good but we don't know what countries are they from, what kind of training they have had."
MacKay said that the long-awaited announcement is a step that will "strengthen our Canadian forces and our Canadian sovereignty."
The air force rejected a similar plan in 2006, according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press.
With reporters gathered for an announcement that had already been leaked recently by an official in MacKay's office -- and some details of which were provided by MacKay himself last month -- the defence minister took the opportunity to attack the Liberals.
He criticized the opposition for what he said were years of neglect of the Canadian military.
"Our Canadian forces have been in the unfortunate position of not having any other option but of hitchhiking rides with allies or moving personnel in countries like Afghanistan," he said.
The purchase of the new choppers and surveillance drones will improve the effectiveness and safety of Canada's soldiers, MacKay said.
"These helicopters will mean less use of convoys to move and re-supply our troops and bring humanitarian relief over dangerous terrain," he said.
MacKay said used Chinooks bought from the U.S. will be in service by early 2009. Canada bought the used choppers for about $290 million.
Canadian air force pilots are currently training in the U.S on the Chinooks.
The leased commercial Russian-built Mi-8 choppers are expected to be deployed later this summer.
Canada is planning to buy 16 new Chinook helicopters by 2013. MacKay also noted the unmanned drones will help provide surveillance needed to protect Canada's troops.
The unmanned drones have been leased for $109 million.
MacKay's official announcement came just a day after a Senate committee report criticized what it said was the Conservative government's meager military spending.
The report said the Tory government's defence policy will not live up to its own promise of stable funding for the military.
With files from The Canadian Press
