Canadian military won't release records discussing RCAF commander’s F-35 photo

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeDefence Watch Canadian military won't release records discussing RCAF commander’s F-35 photo RCAF commander Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet was photographed signing the fuselage bulkhead to be installed on a F-35 fighter jet. Author of the article: By David Pugliese  •  Ottawa Citizen Published Sep 18, 2026 Last updated 14 hours ago 4 minute read Join the conversation RCAF Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet travelled to Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, facility on Feb. 2 for a ceremony to mark a production milestone for Canada's first F-35. CANADIAN FORCES PHOTO Article content Documents discussing a photo of the air force’s top officer signing the fuselage of Canada’s first F-35 are cloaked in secrecy with the Canadian military refusing to release the records. Article content Canada’s purchase of American-built F-35 fighter jets has become highly controversial in the midst of deteriorating relations between the two nations. Article content Article content Royal Canadian Air Force generals have advocated for buying the planes and further integrating and co-operating more with the U.S. military even as President Donald Trump threatens to economically cripple Canada and eventually annex this country. Article content Article content While Canada has committed to purchasing 16 F-35s, Prime Minister Mark Carney initiated a review of whether to purchase a remaining 72 jets the RCAF wants. Article content In February, RCAF commander Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet travelled to the F-35 assembly facility in Fort Worth, Texas, for a ceremony to mark a production milestone for Canada’s first F-35. During the event, Speiser-Blanchet was photographed signing the fuselage bulkhead to be installed on the jet. Article content Usually such a ceremony would be worthy of publicity by both F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin and the Canadian Forces. Article content But the Canadian military refused to release an original photo of the signing event and is now refusing to release records, requested under the Access to Information Act, regarding its internal discussions on the decision to suppress the image. The Ottawa Citizen filed that request on April 24. The newspaper has filed a complaint to the Information Commissioner of Canada about the military decision to withhold the records. Article content Shannon Clark Larkin, the executive director…