You know, I heard similar statements made about the replacement of the Sea King program, which as you know is still awaiting the final delivery of aircraft. It has a lot to do with industry's ability to respond and manufacture these aircraft. You can't go out and get helicopters or ships at the local Canadian Tire store.
As you know, these contracts are very complex. The on-board equipment has actually changed in some instances between the time the procurement process has begun and the time of the delivery. We have numerous examples of procurement strategies that have taken an exponential amount of time.
In an ideal world I'd love to be able to go out to buy these aircraft and get them quickly. I think we need them. I will express to you my personal frustration that the process has been sidelined at times.
We've also faced the reality that this involves more than just one department, as you can appreciate. DND does not go out and negotiate the contract for equipment. That is left to the Department of Public Works. Industry Canada, obviously, has the most direct interface with the industries that are involved in the building of fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft.
There's always the backdrop that we want to maximize the benefits to Canadian industry and the very complex but important element of industrial regional benefits. That is to say that when a large contract is awarded, if it is not to a Canadian company, we must consider how we spread the wealth, if you will, to benefit all regions of the country in the procurement, construction, building, and delivery of contracts.