Mr. Speaker, in regard to issues around cost overruns, the hon. member should know that when we talk about purchasing the F-35 and the 65 Lightning II aircraft, the U.S. government has agreed to cover all of the cost overruns related to the development of the aircraft.
In regard to other costs, when we look at purchasing through the consortium and through the joint strike fighter program, because we are on the ground floor, purchasing is part of this group of nations and we actually receive a discount of 8% upfront, so we are getting the best possible value for Canadian taxpayers.
When we look at efficiencies, we are buying through a consortium. When we look at future potential for maintenance contracts that will be competed all around the world, Canadian companies will have an opportunity to compete on these very lucrative contracts. We estimate the costs for maintenance to be equivalent to the maintenance costs of the CF-18. We think the costs might be less, because there will be such an opportunity to leverage the numbers we are looking at with the consortium around the world. Being part of this is actually a huge leveraging opportunity in our procurement process.
If it is different. It is better, much better. When we look at how we normally procure military equipment, being a part of a group like this will do nothing but benefit our aerospace companies, but also the Canadian military in terms of costs moving forward.