We already have F-35s on the order books, and Gripens are a step up from the Hornets we fly now, so this is a silly point.
Perhaps your memory is slipping, but the whole "Elbows up" silliness was a direct response to America attacking our industries, and the President threatening our sovereignty. Maybe Congress needs to remember that they have a responsibility to reign-in the president if the president get's out of hand.
We should have at least 120 fighters, but if we keep doing what we have for the last 50 years, we won't. As you have pointed out, Canadian's don't normally care about defence. Canadians don't care about defence, because we buy kit from elsewhere, and use it in far away bases.
If we start making more kit at home, and have well paid jobs in major centres tied to buying more kit, we will get more kit. We have already proven this with GDLS, and the NSS, so I fail to see why the USAF wannabees in this thread can't grasp it.