Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear about this because lives are in danger. The new vehicle is still unarmoured.
In 2002 while Canadian troops were serving in Afghanistan under American command, Canadian Forces on the ground were provided with U.S. Humvees.
Under the procurement process to replace the fleet of Iltis jeeps, AM General, the makers of the Humvee, dropped out after the government insisted it pay a $10 million performance bond. This despite the fact that Canada's elite counterterrorism force was already using its vehicles.
With the withdrawal of three bids from potential suppliers, does it not indicate a serious problem with the tendering process?