Two Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter jets and two U.S. F-35s flew over the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra on July 4 to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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The Canadian Forces says it wasn’t its idea to conduct a flypast over the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Ottawa on July 4 and it was only responding to a request from the Americans.

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The flight prompted social media criticism from some Canadians about why the country’s military was conducting a flypast to honour a nation whose government continues to threaten Canada.

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In a news release, the Department of National Defence stated the flypast was meant to demonstrate the way Canada and the U.S. routinely work together as part of NORAD, the continental aerospace defence command.

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But DND and the Canadian Forces have since confirmed that the flypast was not their idea. The flight over Ottawa was “requested by the Office of the United States Ambassador to Canada,” DND spokesperson Kened Sadiku stated.

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DND waited more than three weeks to answer questions from the Ottawa Citizen about the flypast. It provided no explanation for the delay in responding.

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“The participation of the two CF-18s accounted for approximately $139,680 in budgeted flying hours,” Sadiku added. The actual flypast cost approximately $23,280, he noted.

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Sadiku said that “there is training value every time a RCAF crew flies an aircraft, even for activities like flypasts.”

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The flypast came shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican politicians unleashed a new wave of criticism against Canada. Trump posted a social-media image showing the U.S. had taken over Canada and Greenland. Trump and other Republican lawmakers called for more economic punishments for Canada because of smoke drifting into the U.S. from wildfires mainly in northern Ontario.

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Trump also threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which Canada paid for, unless the U.S. received compensation and other revenues.

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Canadian military and DND leaders attending Hoekstra’s party included Kevin Brosseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear-Admiral Jeff Murray, Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, and RCAF Brig.-Gen. Leighton James. MPs who were present included Liberal Rob Oliphant, who is parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and Ontario Tory MP Jamil Jivani, according to a report from The Canadian Press.

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Hoekstra used the flypast to promote the F-35 jet, pointing out that Canada would be the “proud owners” of some of the American-built aircraft later this year.

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Canada was set to buy 88 F-35s before Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the purchase in the wake of Trump’s threats to cripple the Canadian economy and annex the country. At this point, Canada is only committed to purchasing 16 F-35s. The Canadian government is also examining a proposal to acquire Swedish Gripen fighter jets.