I might give a bilingual answer.
As an association, we never choose a side in decisions. Both sides will benefit whether we procure the F-35 or the Gripen. In the case of the surveillance contract that was awarded a couple of months ago—Bombardier versus Boeing—my association never took sides. There's a benefit to any decision. As an industry representative, my goal is always to ensure that we get the most benefits.
We could argue that a lot of investment will be done by Lockheed Martin. We could also argue that Saab will do a lot of investment. Among my members, I have people who say they prefer the F-35. Really, I'm going to refrain from choosing a side in that battle. The only thing that interests my members in Aéro Montréal, and my representation, is that in any decision we make, we have to make sure we have Canadian content or that Canada benefits from procurement.
