Matthew Kellway

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, these things have been in the works for 11 years with costing data, Canadianized costing data, put together with the help of Department of National Defence officials. I have a very simple question and perhaps this member who is speaking out now has an answer but we also, I would note, have the Chief of Defence Staff around the table, we have the Deputy Minister for National Defence around the table. Surely someone on that side of the aisle will answer this very simple question for us tonight. Or are they all refusing?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, if that associate minister had half the respect for this House that I have for the Auditor General, then he would be answering this question tonight forthrightly. It is a very simple question. There is lots of help sitting around the table here tonight and any one of them can answer. Do those documents that we have received for 11 years include life cycle costs, yes or no?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, no kidding. That is exactly why we are here tonight, that is exactly why I am asking that question and that is exactly why I expect a forthright response from the Associate Minister of National Defence. The time is over for hiding those costs.

The Auditor General has identified for all of us the fact that there are bilateral cost breakdowns that are put together, now we know, with the help of DND staff who come to DND every year and have been doing so for 11 years. I want to know this evening from the Associate Minister of National Defence whether they do or do not include life cycle costs.

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, we have had 11 years of bilateral cost breakdowns by the testimony provided by the Associate Minister of National Defence tonight. I have a very simple question. In those 11 years of bilateral cost breakdowns, are there or are there not life cycle costs? Or is the minister refusing to answer that question?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, I can confirm that the Auditor General has identified the existence of these bilateral cost breakdowns. It is in paragraph 2.67 of his report, page 26.

However, my question is whether those bilateral cost breakdowns, which come out of the joint strike fighter office to the Department of National Defence, include life cycle costs?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, that is interesting. We have over a decade's worth of Canadianized costing data coming right out of the Department of Defense in the United States.

Could the associate minister please let me know whether these bilateral cost breakdowns include life cycle costs?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, is that to say we have been receiving bilateral cost breakdowns from that joint strike fighter office for 15 years?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, how many years have we been receiving these bilateral cost breakdowns from the joint strike fighter office?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, every year the joint strike fighter office in Washington, D.C., provides Canada with what are termed bilateral cost breakdowns for the F-35. It provides those to the Department of National Defence. They are based on the selected acquisition reports, which I have here, from December 31, 2001. It is a very comprehensive, lengthy, detailed document.

Is our staff involved in the preparation of this Canadianized costing data?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2012]

Madam Chair, it seems one just has to push a little bit.

Could the associate minister or anybody from the other side please describe for us the assignments of these five staff persons? What exactly do they do there in the JSF office?