Ottawa, ON – Jeff Kibble, Conservative Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement, released the following statement calling on the Prime Minister to provide clarity for Canadians after his recent visit to Saudi Arabia:
“The Prime Minister’s visit was the first by a Canadian Prime Minister in 26 years. Yet little was concluded. By the government’s own account, the trip produced a promise to ‘finalize’ a defence memorandum, the start of talks on a tax treaty, investment negotiations to wrap up by early 2027, and a new ‘Coordination Council’ to discuss the rest.
“The government also announced 13 commercial agreements it values at over $1 billion. It has not told Canadians which are binding contracts, which are just memoranda, and which involve Canada’s defence sector.
“An announcement is not an agreement. Canadians deserve to know what was actually signed in their name — especially where their defence industry is concerned.
“This is becoming a pattern: high-profile visits, short on results. A meeting matters when it leads to real outcomes for Canadians — signed contracts, secure jobs, safer supply lines. So far, Canadians have been shown announcements.
“Families across Canada are watching their grocery bills climb faster than almost anywhere in the G7, while the world around them grows more dangerous. Their Prime Minister returned from Jeddah without proof that his visit will make them safer or more prosperous.
“I am not questioning Canada’s interest in new partnerships. I am asking a simple question the government should welcome: when will the Prime Minister show Canadians the results?”