Minister Ng welcomes the purchase of Canadian firefighter aircraft by EU members

October 3, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, announced that she will travel to Brussels, Belgium on October 4, 2024, where she will meet with representatives from Canadian aircraft manufacturer De Havilland Canada (DHC), the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), and Export Development Canada (EDC) to highlight Canada’s continued engagement to support Canadian companies internationally.

Minister Ng will join European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič to deliver remarks at a European Commission event celebrating the purchase of 22 Canadian-made De Havilland Canadair 515 aircraft. Of the 22 aircraft, 12 will form the core of the European Union’s firefighting fleet and will be hosted by six EU member states (Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy) with 10 additional planes purchased by Member States directly. An overview of the 2024 wildfire situation in the European Union will be presented, highlighting how the Canadian-made planes will enhance the fire-fighting capability of European partners.

While in Brussels, Minister Ng will also meet with Executive Vice-President (EVP) and European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis.