Thank you.
Certainly we identified in the report that everything in the process that we looked at was leading towards an eventual purchase of the F-35. In fact, in 2008 National Defence themselves said it would be exceedingly difficult to operate a competition that would include the F-35 because of National Defence's participation in the joint strike fighter program. There were various activities that occurred over the length of time that would indicate that this was moving towards an acquisition of the F-35. However, the jets have not been purchased yet, and under the memorandum of understanding in 2006, as I understand it, the government does not necessarily have to purchase the F-35.
What's important right now, for the new committee that's going to be looking at this, is, number one, to have very clear direction about whether this is an opportunity to look at all options moving forward or whether the F-35 is the only option. If the direction is to look at all options, then one thing that is very critical is to indicate and to determine how the playing field would eventually be levelled if there was going to be a procurement.
So we're not saying that it can't be done. We're simply saying that during the process, everything seemed to be leading towards the purchase of the F-35. That's why our recommendation was around the costing of the F-35. But what's important from this point on is the direction that the government gives to those tasked with the eventual replacement of the CF-18.