We can talk about the C-17s and Hercules aircraft, since those contracts have been signed. In those two cases, National Defence had clearly identified what materiel it wanted to have, which is to taxpayers' benefit. In the past, what I've seen is that it could take years and years to try to develop a device or object that we wanted to buy. Years could go by between the time it was conceived, the time it was developed and the time it was acquired.
We determined that the armed forces needed equipment quickly. When National Defence identified the goods it needed, knowing the market, we issued a call, saying that we believed that one or two companies could produce that aircraft. However, we gave third parties a chance. Ms. Bourgeois, some people raised their hand to say that we were wrong and that they thought they could manufacture the aircraft in question.
It's a transparent process that enables those who believe they have been hurt to be heard. That's why it's not an irregular process. It's exceptional, but it's a process that enables third parties to assert their rights.