Mr. Chair, the critical issue is the government decided to proceed without a competition. The Auditor General found clearly and categorically that the government proceeded without a competition, and that things were done out of sequence and were done without the proper authorization.
The Prime Minister stated last year, and this quote is from the March 11, 2011 issue of the Globe and Mail:
This is the option that was selected some time ago, because it is the only option available. This is the only fighter available that serves the purposes that our air force needs.
Is that still the position of the Government of Canada, yes or no?