Canada may ground Snowbirds during jet transition, critics say

A Conservative MP says Ottawa may pause or cancel the Snowbirds program, putting the future of the iconic air show team at risk. Graham Richardson reports.

MOOSE JAW, SASK. -- This summer could mark the final season for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds in their current form, as the Department of National Defence prepares to unveil a plan critics warn could ground the aerobatic team for years.

Defence Minister David McGuinty is expected to announce changes Tuesday to the future of the Snowbirds, the iconic aerobatic squadron based in Moose Jaw, Sask.

Critics fear the retirement of the CT-114 Tutor jets after the 2026 flying season — combined with what is typically a lengthy procurement process — could sideline the team for years, interrupting a tradition of more than five decades of aerial performances.

“Any announcement other than an uninterrupted transition into new jets will be a massive disappointment to the Snowbirds team, the military and all Canadians,” Conservative MP Fraser Tolmie, who represents Moose Jaw, said in a statement. “Now more than ever, it is essential to protect and strengthen Canada’s national symbols.”

During question period on May 7, McGuinty suggested safety concerns are driving the planned changes.

“The Snowbirds will continue air demonstrations with the Tutor fleet for as long as it is feasible and safe,” he said. He added the federal government is “beginning the process of examining potential aircraft options” once the fleet “reaches its end of life.”

The Tutor jets currently flown by the Snowbirds have been in service since the mid-1960s. In 2021, the Trudeau government committed $30 million to extend their lifespan through upgrades intended to keep them flying until 2030.

It is unclear whether that plan has changed, and the upgrades announced in 2021 have not yet been fully completed.

In a statement, McGuinty said the plan to be announced Tuesday will ensure Canadians continue to enjoy the Snowbirds for “generations to come.”

However, if a replacement aircraft is selected, it is not clear how long it would take to procure and make the planes operational, or why the current fleet cannot continue flying until 2030 as originally planned.

Some retired military pilots say acquiring new aircraft could take years and warn a prolonged grounding could erode the specialized flying and support expertise required to operate the team. They add that rebuilding the squadron after a multi-year hiatus would be difficult.

The Royal Canadian Air Force is also facing personnel shortages, with many squadrons not fully staffed. There is speculation the military may shift some pilots and support staff away from the Snowbirds to address operational demands elsewhere.

Most other G7 countries maintain aerobatic demonstration teams, many of them larger and better resourced than Canada’s Snowbirds. At a time when the Canadian Armed Forces is ramping up recruitment, critics say grounding the popular team during a potentially lengthy procurement process may be difficult for the government to justify.

“The Snowbirds are a reminder, domestically, of the pride we have in our military and what they’ve accomplished at home and abroad,” Tolmie said.

What could be the final performance of the current Snowbirds fleet is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. No airshows have been scheduled for 2027.

McGuinty is expected to announce the government’s plan Tuesday at CFB Moose Jaw.