First, I want to thank my colleagues for allowing me to ask a few questions. I greatly appreciate it.
Mr. Lajeunesse, you talked about SADI, which is equivalent to the TPC, which the government had promised to restore at the time, if it hadn't already done so. My questions concern mainly the military sector.
As you are no doubt well aware, the government has invested $16 billion in purchasing new military aircraft equipment. The way that it has gone about it is somewhat questionable. We spoke with the Auditor General about everything related to the awarding of contracts, meaning the advance contract award notice or ACAN, or by a letter of solicitation. The Auditor General is challenging the way that contracts are granted through an ACAN.
First, how does the supply process work? Is it fine the way it is? Personally, I think that things are not right as they are. Second, do the economic spinoffs have to involve both aspects of procurement, meaning the acquisition fees and support services? It's far from being clear at present. Boeing seems to say that it has received billions of dollars for the purchase of large aircraft but is now asking whether it is possible, concerning the servicing... Perhaps the example of Boeing is not relevant, because I don't think that it will repair the C-17 in Canada. It's quite clear. We can wonder whether there will be any economic spinoffs.
Finally, what do you think about the creation of the aerospace caucus, the chair of which is here, and of which I am the vice-chair? Is this caucus going to be, among other things, an important interface for the industry? We feel that this is a very important role for that caucus.