Mr. Speaker, the member is staking out the position that was put in place by the members opposite when they were in government.
The reality is that this is the best possible aircraft. We are buying the variant that is most cost effective. We will be taking delivery at peak of production, somewhere between 2016 and 2017. However, let us listen to a non-partisan, objective voice for a change, one that says the joint strike fighter program is the “largest advanced technology opportunity ever presented to Canadian industry”. Suppliers are already engaged across the country.
I do not know why the members opposite are still taking a page out of 1993 when they cancelled the helicopter program.