PJ The Belt - February 20, 2026


BREAKINGļ¼š Alberta Just Took Control of Its AIR FORCE!!


Episode Stats

Length

16 minutes

Words per Minute

164.54646

Word Count

2,712

Sentence Count

186


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 This is one of those stories that's just positive from every angle you look at it.
00:00:04.600 Like if Alberta is looking to become independent from Canada, then the best course of action is to cover all the bases, to decrease the level of dependency rapidly and in every aspect possible as soon as possible.
00:00:19.720 And this move right here is doing just that.
00:00:22.440 The Alberta government is taking control of its own airspace and doing away with Canadian dependency.
00:00:28.760 And this sends a clear message to Ottawa.
00:00:31.560 We're taking care of our own business here.
00:00:34.600 So act accordingly.
00:00:36.080 And the details about this power move is what you're not going to want to miss.
00:00:40.040 Let's get into it.
00:00:41.300 So the Alberta government just announced a massive $400 million investment fully funded by Alberta to secure a fleet of DHC 515 airplanes to reduce dependency on Ottawa to protect Alberta's safety.
00:00:56.260 This is the news conference where they provide all the details about this.
00:01:01.300 Let's watch.
00:01:01.940 Right.
00:01:02.740 We good, Sam?
00:01:03.640 Yeah.
00:01:04.160 All right.
00:01:04.500 Well, thanks for joining us today.
00:01:05.680 To start, I do want to acknowledge Todd Lohan, our Minister of Forestry and Parks, Joseph Scow, our Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, and Brian Chase, CEO of DeHavilland Canada.
00:01:16.440 It is my pleasure to join them in announcing an exciting step forward in our efforts to protect Albertans and our communities from the devastation of wildfires.
00:01:25.320 It may be February, but we're really only weeks away from wildfire season.
00:01:29.520 And increasingly, we're seeing that season become more volatile here in Alberta and across Canada.
00:01:34.420 It looks like they're having issues with their audio on their end, some issues with a microphone or interference or something going on there.
00:01:43.520 Wildfires are also becoming increasingly unpredictable.
00:01:47.280 But what can be predicted is the impact of fires, the loss of life and destruction of property.
00:01:52.920 It can be greatly reduced when we're capable of a stronger and more rapid response to wildfires.
00:01:58.440 So I'm pleased to say that this will soon be the reality in Alberta, thanks to our government's investment to build and add five new water bombers to our existing air tanker fleet.
00:02:07.360 Alberta has landed on a contract with DeHavilland to build the new, made-in-Alberta aircraft, Canadair DHC 515 water bombers, which will enhance our ability to protect communities, support firefighters on the ground, and respond rapidly when fires ignite.
00:02:22.960 I love that they're made in Alberta.
00:02:25.000 Bring those jobs to Alberta.
00:02:26.380 If the government of Alberta is using $400 million of our tax dollars, then I want to see jobs being created right here in Alberta.
00:02:34.720 And it's good that our province, hopefully soon-to-be country, is taking matters into its own hands because we know what happened in Jasper and that that was federal negligence.
00:02:45.700 The federal government neglects Alberta parks.
00:02:49.120 They neglect Alberta, generally speaking.
00:02:51.920 They didn't do preventative maintenance.
00:02:54.100 They didn't take care of the forestry.
00:02:56.380 And look what happened to Jasper.
00:02:58.460 We damn nearly lost that town.
00:03:00.740 Pretty much did lose, like, half of it.
00:03:03.320 And it won't be the same for years to come, thanks to their negligence.
00:03:07.960 So the fact that Alberta's taking matters into its own hands is great to see.
00:03:12.660 This is a $400 million investment, fulfilling a commitment we made in Budget 2025.
00:03:18.280 That's a lot of money.
00:03:19.300 Pardon me.
00:03:19.680 Budget 2024 to purchase additional air tankers.
00:03:23.200 And this is in addition to our government's $160 million annual investment towards the province's wildfire response.
00:03:30.020 Every wildfire season air tanker crews work in dangerous conditions under acute time pressures.
00:03:35.060 These new aircraft will help them respond faster, carry more water, and operate with improved safety systems.
00:03:41.420 Air tankers are positioned strategically around the province at 13 different bases.
00:03:46.380 The five air tankers invested here will mean a 60% increase in Alberta's drop capacity.
00:03:51.580 Critically, the aircraft will help prevent fires from spreading into neighbouring communities.
00:03:56.660 Because a quicker response will help keep wildfires smaller and under control.
00:04:01.680 And while smaller is better when it comes to wildfires,
00:04:03.900 I'm excited to say that our partnership with the Haviland will have the opposite effect in Alberta.
00:04:08.480 This investment means growth.
00:04:10.660 It will inject millions of dollars into our economy,
00:04:13.480 expand Alberta's aerospace sector, and support hundreds of new jobs for Albertans.
00:04:17.520 This includes good jobs helping to build the aircraft at de Haviland's new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility,
00:04:23.480 which is being built right here in Alberta, in Wheatland County.
00:04:27.160 De Haviland's presence in Alberta dates back to 2022,
00:04:30.560 when the company made the decision to locate its headquarters in our province.
00:04:34.260 De Haviland recognized the Alberta advantage and saw the many opportunities that exist here,
00:04:39.000 including our business-friendly climate, less red tape, a skilled workforce,
00:04:42.980 and one of the lowest corporate tax rates in North America.
00:04:45.520 The company's entrance into our province is a signal that we are providing the right conditions
00:04:49.980 for leading companies to call Alberta home.
00:04:52.440 And I am certain it will serve as a beacon for other global investors to follow suit
00:04:56.300 and experience what our province has to offer.
00:04:58.980 To put it simply, today's announcement is a true Alberta success story.
00:05:02.880 It's a testament to our province's growing reputation as a place where innovation and technology thrive.
00:05:09.220 It reinforces Alberta as a leader in manufacturing,
00:05:12.400 and it once again showcases Alberta as the best destination for investment.
00:05:16.860 Most important, this is an investment in public safety,
00:05:19.880 in the lives of Albertans, protection of their property, protection of our communities,
00:05:24.680 and in the safety of our wildfire responders.
00:05:27.660 I do want to thank Brian and everyone at De Haviland Aircraft of Canada for choosing Alberta,
00:05:32.000 and I'd like to invite Minister of Forestry and Parks, Todd Lowen, to say a few words.
00:05:36.180 Well, for one, I'm glad to see this investment.
00:05:38.220 It is long overdue.
00:05:39.840 We get some of the worst wildfires in the world here in Alberta because we have a lot of forests.
00:05:45.740 We have multiple national parks and so many treed areas that fires just get out of hand,
00:05:52.320 and we've been under-equipped.
00:05:54.060 And again, the federal government hasn't really taken care of its forestry and forest management.
00:05:59.760 They've been negligent at forest management.
00:06:02.060 They haven't done the preventative maintenance to avoid the catastrophic fires that we've been having for the past 10 years.
00:06:09.880 Alberta's government continues to do everything it can to protect Albertans from the effects of wildfire,
00:06:14.680 and today's announcement is a big step forward in preparing for the future.
00:06:18.740 Our government has been hard at work since the end of the 2025 wildfire season to ensure we are prepared for what's ahead.
00:06:24.820 Each year, we evaluate outcomes from the previous season to see where we can improve.
00:06:28.680 It's through this process that we are constantly reminded of the impact wildfires can have on our communities,
00:06:34.200 our families, and our livelihoods.
00:06:36.700 Alberta's committed to a strong wildfire response, not only in our province, but across the country.
00:06:41.840 That is why we are stepping up by adding five new water bombers to boost our air tanker fleet.
00:06:46.540 This will help us protect Alberta, and it will also increase our ability to offer help to other jurisdictions when the need arises.
00:06:52.980 Alberta already owns a fleet of four air tankers built between 1986 and 1988,
00:06:58.740 which will remain fully operational and will be supplemented by the new water bombers.
00:07:03.440 They're old, though. Very old.
00:07:04.560 These new aircraft are a game-changer.
00:07:06.780 They're built for Alberta.
00:07:07.980 They fly faster, carry more water, and reload in seconds,
00:07:11.340 giving our wildland firefighters the power to hit wildfires hard and early,
00:07:15.600 battling fires while they're small, and keeping communities safe.
00:07:18.660 They also come with modern technology to keep air crews safe while they work.
00:07:23.180 Our air crews work in challenging conditions,
00:07:25.620 and we are proud to announce the addition of these water bombers to help make their efforts even more effective.
00:07:31.420 Alberta's faced significant wildfire challenges in recent years,
00:07:34.300 and we continue to explore new ways we can improve our wildfire fighting capabilities
00:07:38.180 and prepare ourselves for future wildfire seasons.
00:07:41.840 Alberta is a leader when it comes to using aircraft to fight wildfires,
00:07:44.720 and we have seen some great success with these programs over the last few years.
00:07:48.660 This includes adding night vision helicopters to our arsenal,
00:07:52.140 which has increased our ability to fight fires at night when temperatures are cooler and the humidity is higher,
00:07:57.620 fighting the fires when they're smaller.
00:07:59.980 And just last year, we conducted a project to test the ability of hoist-equipped helicopters
00:08:03.980 to drop and retrieve firefighters in hard-to-access wildfire locations.
00:08:09.800 Mitigating the risks of catastrophic wildfires is also a major focus for our government.
00:08:13.700 Each year, we improve our capability to address wildfires through planning and preparation.
00:08:18.660 We continue to build the collaborative actions and proactive measures that will help Albertans
00:08:23.400 and their communities deal with wildfire, but not be severely impacted by it.
00:08:28.220 These include fire-smart programs and community fire guard projects
00:08:31.620 to reduce the amount of timber and hazardous fuels near communities.
00:08:35.460 As the 2026 wildfire season draws closer, we remind Albertans that protecting our communities and forests is a shared responsibility.
00:08:44.420 We all have a role to play.
00:08:46.460 Through collective action by individuals, government, municipalities, and industry,
00:08:51.580 we will be ready to face whatever future wildfire seasons bring.
00:08:55.040 Honestly, it's best that Alberta decides to take over of the maintenance of our wooded areas, of our forests.
00:09:02.520 Unfortunately, the national parks are still a part of the federal government,
00:09:07.120 while Alberta is still a part of Canada.
00:09:09.900 So they're going to be the ones handling that.
00:09:13.640 But if I was Alberta, if I was the government of Alberta, I'd be acting proactively,
00:09:18.280 because these people clearly don't care.
00:09:20.040 That's why you have situations like what happened in Jasper recently.
00:09:24.720 They don't care.
00:09:25.840 They underfund it.
00:09:27.180 They underprotect it.
00:09:29.060 It's understaffed.
00:09:30.660 They really don't care about anything Alberta-related other than to take Alberta's money.
00:09:36.480 So if I'm the government of Alberta, I would be taking proactive steps like this one right here
00:09:42.760 to make sure that I protect our lands.
00:09:47.440 That's what I would do.
00:09:48.460 Just the maintenance, just do it.
00:09:51.040 Let them, oh, that's our jurisdiction, whatever.
00:09:53.480 Just do it.
00:09:54.460 Take care of it.
00:09:55.360 Protect it.
00:09:56.940 And then send them the bill.
00:09:59.140 It's your jurisdiction.
00:10:00.480 We did it for you.
00:10:01.260 We took care of it.
00:10:02.300 Send them the bill.
00:10:03.520 This is a great day for our province.
00:10:05.720 Our new air tankers will be built right here in Alberta by DeHavilland Canada.
00:10:09.740 A notable Canadian aerospace company.
00:10:12.780 Supporting good jobs.
00:10:14.300 Strengthening our aerospace industry.
00:10:16.940 And helping keep Alberta safe.
00:10:18.460 For years to come.
00:10:19.920 Thank you very much.
00:10:21.140 And I will now invite Minister Scaliff to provide some remarks.
00:10:28.320 Well, good afternoon.
00:10:29.720 And thank you, Premier.
00:10:31.240 Thank you, Minister Lowen.
00:10:32.580 And also, Brian, thank you.
00:10:34.020 To the entire team of DeHavilland Canada, you can't see them on camera, but there are hundreds of employees right behind me with big smiling faces.
00:10:41.660 This is truly a fantastic day.
00:10:43.240 And for generations, Alberta has been a place of innovation, often leading with new technology and solutions to drive success for the economy.
00:10:51.760 Whether it be hard-working families providing food security for Canada in many parts of the world, or our energy workers that keep the lights on and heat our homes.
00:11:01.880 Alberta is known for opportunity.
00:11:04.020 Today, we get to see another major step in an industry that is growing here by the day, aviation and aerospace.
00:11:12.140 As a fifth-generation Albertan, I can't help but be grateful for all those who came before me, who laid the foundation for this success.
00:11:20.160 And that is why all the other growth we have seen in aviation are especially exciting to me and to those who have come before us.
00:11:27.920 Just over three years ago, DeHavilland made the move to Alberta and announced a major investment in a new aircraft manufacturing facility in Wheatland County.
00:11:39.480 This was a move that shows confidence in Alberta's economy and our government's ability to keep Alberta as the best place to do business.
00:11:48.760 Major investments from companies like this could go anywhere.
00:11:52.540 At least in Canada, for sure.
00:11:53.500 But they want what we have to offer.
00:11:54.680 They are choosing Alberta because of our low taxes, our highly skilled workforce, and willingness to get out of the way and let business do what business does best.
00:12:04.200 Create jobs and create wealth and opportunity.
00:12:07.340 And today, we are seeing the benefits of that investor confidence.
00:12:11.640 Looking ahead, I am so optimistic for Alberta and the opportunity that lies ahead for aviation and aerospace industry.
00:12:17.700 These new planes purchased by our government will make up just a few of the planes that will not only carry the trust in the name of DeHavilland,
00:12:25.480 but also the widely recognized stamp that gives confidence for a great product made in Alberta.
00:12:32.160 Thank you, and I want to wish DeHavilland Canada and all the team success for many years to come.
00:12:37.440 This is an incredible thing.
00:12:38.520 Alberta is definitely the best place to do business in Canada.
00:12:44.960 Canada is a disaster to do business.
00:12:46.680 Thank you, Minister.
00:12:48.040 I think we're all excited at DeHavilland.
00:12:51.100 It's a big deal when you get an order this size, but also it says a lot where you set up a large part of your business in a province,
00:12:59.260 and that province backs you with an order like this.
00:13:02.920 So it says a lot to not only Albertans, but to Canadians and people around the world.
00:13:07.320 So thank you, Premier, for the big order and believing in us.
00:13:12.760 Secondly, you know, as a transplanted Albertan, I'm pretty excited about the fact that this government has taken a bold and no-nonsense effort
00:13:22.220 to try to deal with the devastation that wildfires can bring, protecting the people and the communities of Alberta.
00:13:29.780 I'm really excited about this, and I'm hoping that you will see other provinces and jurisdictions step up the same way.
00:13:38.100 I was recently reading the new defense industrial strategy, and I don't know that there's anything more pressing than defending Canada from the wildfires.
00:13:48.280 We've all seen the destruction across the country.
00:13:50.300 And then when you look at that strategy, it's about investing in Canadian companies, companies that have IP and a lot of significant employment in Canada.
00:14:02.260 Well, let me give you a few stats about DeHavilland.
00:14:05.020 We're 100% Canadian-owned.
00:14:07.740 You know, I always say this.
00:14:14.220 Our owners were pro-Canadian before it was cool to be pro-Canadian.
00:14:20.060 You know, I was given the mandate to repatriate as much work from around the world back to Canada
00:14:24.880 and employ as many people in Canada, and in particular in Alberta, as I could.
00:14:29.980 And today, we have over 80% of our airplanes either made by us or sourced by Canadian companies, unheard of in this kind of sector in aerospace.
00:14:40.340 So I don't know if you'll have to make a choice, Canada or Alberta.
00:14:43.780 In addition, our supply chain goes from coast to coast.
00:14:47.820 And our special missions aircraft is also, I mean, you're talking from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Victoria, B.C.
00:14:54.320 So as I stand here today, I love what I read about the defense industrial strategy, and I'm just saying, hey, here we are in Canada.
00:15:04.480 Let's bring some of that to Western Canada.
00:15:07.760 And lastly, as Minister Owen said, we have a couple of hundred of our employees here, and I'd like to thank them.
00:15:14.640 You see a lot of changes going on in the world, and we're losing some jobs in manufacturing.
00:15:19.940 Well, these guys here are making it real.
00:15:22.040 We've added over 1,600 employees, primarily in the manufacturing sector, and these guys are making it happen.
00:15:30.700 That's why people are making orders from us, because we have great employee base, and they're bringing back manufacturing to Canada.
00:15:37.800 So with that, thank you, Premier, for believing in us and taking the initiative to protect Alberta and its people.
00:15:47.460 And now I think we need to let these guys get back to work on not hearing any banging or noise or anything here as they build a 515.
00:15:55.280 Thank you.
00:15:55.740 Thank you.
00:16:25.740 And we're going to keep you informed all the way.