NDP says replacing navy's aging supply ships would be its defence priority

The NDP wants to put the navy at the top of Canadian defence policy, ahead of fighter jets, at least for the time being.

Jack Layton said a New Democratic government would review the purchase of the F-35 stealth fighter and possibly put the CF-18 replacement out to open tender, but only after drafting a white paper to chart the future of the military.

"Without question, Stephen Harper's high-risk procurement strategy on the fighters places in doubt whether he has the right priorities for our Canadian Forces or that he can get the job done," Layton said Friday at a campaign event overlooking the navy's principal West Coast base at Esquimalt, B.C.

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