Bombardier CEO voices concerns over awarding Canada's defense contract to Boeing

(Reuters) - Bombardier Inc Chief Executive Eric Martel voiced concerns over Canada's potential plan to buy reconnaissance jets directly from Boeing Co instead of tapping its home-grown aerospace industry through a bidding process.

"As President and CEO of Bombardier, I want to publicly share my concern that Canada, which is facing an important choice about the airborne surveillance of its vast borders, may be considering awarding a sole-source contract directly to Boeing."

Martel's comments come after a recent media report that Canada was considering a multi-billion dollar purchase of up to a dozen P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Boeing.

Martel pushed for Bombardier's jets, saying the Canadian planemaker's Global 6500 aircraft "will be the right-sized solution and will respond to Canada's needs".

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)