Julian Fantino

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Mr. Chair, when this information is put forth, it is assumed, I suppose, by the hon. member that people bite.

The reality is it was his government that began the process. It was his government that put Canada, along with eight other nations, into the joint strike fighter program.

Prior to project approval, the Treasury Board Secretariat will first commission an independent review of the Department of National Defence acquisition and sustainment estimates, which will be made public.

Ultimately, we will provide the Canadian Forces with the proper aircraft they need to do the important job we ask of them.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Mr. Chair, the position of the government is that we have not signed any contract for the purchase of replacement aircraft. We have been clear that we have set a budget and we will work within that budget. A new secretariat is being established that will play the lead coordinating role as the government moves to make a decision to replace the aging CF-18s.

We will not proceed with any purchase until the seven-step action plan we have outlined is completed and developmental work is sufficiently advanced.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Mr. Chair, we have accepted the findings and the recommendation made by the Auditor General. We are acting with diligence to fulfill the recommendation as he conveyed in his report.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, in my earlier life I felt that citizens were respectful of due process and others. I would suggest to the member opposite that maybe he should exercise some of that.

In any event, the same recommendation also asked the department to start full life cycle planning for the preferred option in the definition phase of its project management process. Again, a lot of these things are in the works as per the recommendation of the Auditor General.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, I would suggest that the hon. member not get too excited because he is liable to get the same answers to the truthful requirement of being respectful of the Auditor General.

The budget for the F-35 acquisition and sustainment is based on actual detailed estimates, calculations of which have been in dispute. There is no order and no decision made to acquire the F-35. We are working diligently, as was recommended, to determine those figures so as we can make informed decisions.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, the hon. member opposite needs to again reflect on the Auditor General's findings and his report. In his recommendation there are issues with respect to how figures have been compiled and reported. There are some discrepancies as he identified. We are endeavouring, in a responsible, systematic way, to make determinations which will help us make decisions.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, as we know from the Auditor General's findings and report, these are issues that he wished to be determined. He made a recommendation to that effect.

We are diligently working to comply. To that end, the hon. member should be respectful of this process, as we certainly are.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, the program is led by the Americans.

The definitive Canadian costing is really what the Auditor General has recommended. We are following through on his recommendation. This is why we have put in place the independent secretariat, which will assist us with those answers. There is a seven-step action plan in place. All of these things are part of what was recommended by the Auditor General, with respect to Canadian figures.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, apparently the reports have been coming in since about 2001.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, to the member opposite, Canada has been a partner in the development of the joint strike fighter program for the last 15 years, dating back to 1997, when the Liberal government of the day engaged Canada in this particular project, which we are continuing today.