Rona Ambrose

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that it was actually the Liberal government in 1997 that signed the MOU to be a member of the JSF—

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General also said that no money was misspent and that is because no money has been spent on the acquisition of any fighter aircraft. We have pressed reset on this process. We have established the secretariat to manage the process moving forward. It is ensuring that there is transparency and due diligence in the decision making leading up to replacing our CF-18s. We look forward to that work and we will not be making an acquisition until all of that work is done.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is ridiculous. The Minister of National Defence has done an outstanding job and we are all very proud of him.

There has been no money spent on the acquisition of any new aircraft. As soon as the government received the Auditor General's report, we hit reset on this process. We are undertaking a transparent process to ensure that we have the full cost of aircraft to replace the CF-18. We are doing a full options analysis to ensure that we have all of the information on cost and capability.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as soon as the Auditor General's report was tabled and he raised concerns, we immediately took action to reset this process. We have put in place the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat, which is managing this process. That includes independent oversight, which is very important. It will ensure that we get maximum due diligence in the decision-making process leading up to the acquisition of the aircraft to replace the CF-18s.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, there has been no one in the House who has stood by and stood up for our Canadian armed forces more than the present Minister of National Defence.

I will just remind the hon. member that one of the things the Auditor General did say was that no money was misspent. Why is that? It is because no money has been spent.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat is in charge of doing the due diligence necessary. It will be undertaking a full options analysis. I am sure that it will call on the necessary experts to provide the technical expertise. Perhaps the member could give it some advice.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, we are in the pre-acquisition phase at this point. We have hit reset on this process. The National Fighter Procurement Secretariat is doing the due diligence necessary to ensure that a full options analysis will be undertaken. I am sure that it will call on the expertise necessary to do the full technical analysis of the aircraft available to replace the CF-18.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat will be the one doing the full options analysis. I have complete confidence in the integrity and due diligence of the group doing the work. I am sure that when it does the full options analysis in looking at the costs and capabilities of all of the aircraft available to replace the CF-18, it will call on the necessary expertise when needed.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I feel strongly about the integrity and independence of the work being done by the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat. It will undertake the cost and capability analysis of all the fighter aircraft options that are out there to replace the CF-18s. We look forward to its work, and I am sure it will call in all of the expertise needed to do that analysis.

[National Defence, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat is set up to manage this process. It will be the one undertaking the full options analysis, and its work will be made public.