Madam Chair, I welcome the member to the committee of the whole. He also represents CFB Bagotville, one of our air force bases, where we respond to NORAD missions. I know he understands this extremely well. These planes should have been replaced by the previous government over 10 years ago, but they were not.
I am happy to hear that the Leader of the Opposition announced in his speech in Montreal that he would conduct an open and transparent competition to replace the fighters, something we have already started. I am very happy that this has been done.