Disputes over F-35 program arises

According to CBC, Canada’s F-35 jet fighter program will be re-examined on Tuesday after the release of an auditor general’s report that slams the Defense Department and it’s agreement with procurement policies.

The government will be revoking the Defense Departments responsibilities for the program and setting up a special secretariat of deputy ministers to manage the program

It has been said that the government feels military officials misled the program. They promise to become more transparent about the fighter jet purchase from Lockheed Martin.

In March, the associate minister of national defense suggested to the House defense committee that the purchase of the F-35 was not a forgone conclusion. He stated that Canada would continue to be involved in the Joint Strike Fighter program, however that did not mean they to actually purchase the F-35.

Prime Minster Stephen Harper says that Canada’s aerospace industry has received hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts due to their 15 year involvement in the F-35 program.

Canada’s plan was to spend 9 billion dollars on 65 jets however plans have been changed due to a change in price.

The price of the U.S. F-35 program has surpassed the 1.5 trillion dollar mark making it the most expensive ever.

However, the Canadian government has estimated that their 65 jets will only cost 75 million each; the parliamentary budget officer has estimated the price to be closer to 148 million.