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Peace group plans protest against fighter jet purchase

Collingwood-based Pivot2Peace will be demonstrating outside MP Terry Dowdall's office as part of a nation-wide action opposing the proposed spending of $7B on fighter jets
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Pivot2Peace members were outside the Collingwood federal building on Hurontario Street to mark World Peace Day. Contributed photo

The Collingwood-based Pivot2Peace group is joining other organizations as part of the No Fighter Jets Coalition in staging demonstrations opposing the government's planned spending of $7 billion on new fighter jets. 

Pivot2Peace will be protesting outside of MP Terry Dowdall's Collingwood office at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6. 

The Canadian Press reported in December that Canada's department of national defence received "quiet" approval to spend $7 billion on 16 F-35 fighter jets and related gear, which includes spare parts, facilities to house and maintain the fighter jets and upgrades to the military's computer networks. 

The Liberal government has promised to buy 88 fighter jets, the total cost of which is not yet known. 

"Fighter jets are weapons of war and exacerbate global warming," states a news release from the No Fighter Jets Coalition, which notes the carbon emissions from one long-range flight of an F-35 is more than a car would generate in a year. 

Anyone is welcome to join the Pivot2Peace demonstration at Dowdall's office on Friday.