The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday, Jan. 6, edition that Canada's industry minister plans to meet with Lockheed Martin executives to secure more jobs from a multibillion-dollar fighter jet deal. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post reports that Melanie Joly aims to enhance economic benefits from increased defence spending by the government for 2026. Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration plans to invest tens of billions in projects, including purchasing fighter jets and submarines and expanding Canadian production of armoured vehicles and satellites. Ms. Joly has been trying to play Lockheed and Sweden's Saab against each other over a contract for dozens of new jets. In 2023, Canada pledged to buy 88 Lockheed F-35 jets to modernize its fleet but has only acquired 16 so far. Saab is pitching its Gripen jet as a replacement or addition to the F-35s, with the promise of a production line based in Quebec, where many of Canada's aviation businesses are headquartered. If the government also chooses Saab's Globaleye as a surveillance plane, the company has said a total of 12,600 direct jobs would be created in Canada, with spinoff benefits in research and development. Ms. Joly plans to meet with Lockheed in January.