The contract has not been finalized, but after a six-year reconsideration of the previous Conservative government’s plans to buy the jets co-developed with other allied countries, the federal Liberals announced that F-35s are the right choice for Canada, after all. (The Logic)

Talking point: Gripen jets made by Sweden’s Saab remain a possible backup, but Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi said in a news conference the F-35 comes with the unanimous endorsement of expert teams from her department, plus National Defence and Innovation, Science and Economic Development. The government is applying a policy requiring the contractor to produce economic benefits for Canada in amounts equal to the value of the 88-jet deal, which was last estimated at up to $19 billion. That likely means a lot of work for enginemaker Pratt & Whitney Canada, in addition to numerous other suppliers, plus additional contracts for long-term maintenance and replenishment.