Wed, Apr 14, 2004
Could They Be Disbanded For Budgetary Reasons?
A decision to retire the venerable
CT-114A Tutor at Canadian Forces 15 Wing, combined with a
remarkably severe budget crunch in the Canadian Defense Ministry
has raised urgent questions about the future of the Snowbirds
aerial display team.
The flames of that particular fire were recently fanned by
leaked Canadian Forces documents that show the armed forces
themselves put the Snowbirds last on the list of operations to be
funded.
Those flames were further fanned when the Canadian Air Show
Association issued a news release saying, in part, "The Canadian
Air Show Association (CASA) is deeply concerned about the latest
media reports that the Air Force has put the Snowbirds on a list of
potential program cuts to help deal with budget shortfalls. CASA
says it is clear that relying on the cash-strapped Canadian
military to preserve this important national institution has become
too risky."
"Funding pressures in the military have reached a critical point
and some tough decisions will have to be made. The future of the
Snowbirds is very much at risk," said CASA President Rodger
Sorsdahl.
There is a Save the Snowbirds group trying to convince Ottawa to
change its mind about the military demonstration team. In 2001,
members sent 25,000 postcards to the capital, urging lawmakers to
continue funding the team.
Canadian Member of Parliament Inky Mark issued a statement last
week saying he would propose an amendment to the National Defense
Act that would keep the Snowbirds alive. And earlier this month,
the Regina Leader-Post reports, Maj. Gen. Steve Lucas, head of air
force operations, promised the team would continue to fly until at
least 2006.
But concerns about the future of the Snowbirds still run
rampant. There is now a movement afoot in Canada to raise private
funding for the team.
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