No, there's no apology necessary; we're just trying to get some clarification. In any business, and of course in the business of running the country, there are expenses and there is income. I'm certainly not going to suggest that we extrapolate the success we've had today in the industrial benefits across the entire acquisition and suggest that we're going to make money on it; far from it. But it is my understanding that Parliament has budgeted approximately $700 million during the developmental stage, they have spent something in the neighbourhood of $300 million in the developmental stage, and in industrial benefits already we have in excess of $435 million.
So there have been some tremendous successes, particularly due to the fact that we have a vibrant aerospace industry that quite frankly performs a very significant role in our economy. We're very proud of that, and obviously we don't believe it should be minimized to any particular extent, particularly when we look at an acquisition cost and at our being a participating partner in this entire program, not only as one of the originating partners.
I think you can see where I'm going on this. When the U.S. Air Force alone is going to build 2,400 of these just for their use alone, there can be some significant benefits down the road to Canada.
So I understand that cost is very important, but I would suggest very strongly, sir, that I think.... I'm not going to suggest that you do another study now, but what I am suggesting is that we could certainly be mindful of this story. I think this is a story that Canadians should hear. At that point.... I'm hopeful that at some point, you or your department or officials will start to ascertain the regional benefits from this from across the country.
I know we can ask industry for that, and they'll give us that information, but for security purposes, right now a lot of these companies cannot even be identified; I think we can all understand that. But you have the privilege, sir, and the means with which to do some preliminary investigation, because of your security clearance. Have you done that?