Mr. Speaker, I am looking at an immediate news release here from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, which expresses serious concern and encourages all members of Parliament to vote against the motion that would cancel the planned purchase of the F-35. I quote:
To say that by cancelling the current process and starting from scratch would somehow result in a greater number of jobs for our industry and without penalties is not only a stretch but it is completely misleading. The instability in the Canadian industry on the issue is creating a climate whereby jobs and investment are being threatened if not lost already.
For the AIAC, the issue with the motion is that it says the direct industrial participation process, which underpins the purchase of the F-35, would create fewer jobs versus the industrial regional benefit.
I ask the parliamentary secretary if he could expound on the far-reaching consequences of cancelling the current process on our military, Canadian jobs and, in fact, beyond.