A federal committee heard from a long list of witnesses in Ottawa Tuesday, as it studies recommendations from the auditor general's report into the government's controversial plan to buy F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Eight witnesses from the Department of Industry, Public Works, Treasury Board, National Defence and Government Services appeared to face questioning from members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Auditor General Michael Ferguson's report fanned the flames surrounding the purchase of the Lockheed Martin F-35s, suggesting proper procurement procedures weren't followed, the costs would be up to $10 billion higher than estimated, and there was little transparency around the process.
The Conservatives have estimated costs of roughly $15 billion for 65 F-35 Lightning II jets, but Ferguson said the cost would be closer to $25 billion.
NDP MP Malcolm Allen, a member of the committee, grilled Deputy Minister of National Defence Robert Fonberg on the discrepancy Tuesday, pointing to documents that show a $25-billion estimate was given to ministers, but a lower $15-billion figure was released to the public.
Allen asked Fonberg whether the government was keeping two sets of books, which Fonberg denied.
"(The lower estimate) is acquisition sustainment, which is the way we've reported on each of our acquisitions over the last four major airframe assets," he said. "The other one includes operating costs which we haven't reported on publicly because it's included in the base budget of the Department of National Defence."
The Conservatives have consistently maintained that Ferguson factored in costs such as fuel prices and pilots' paycheques over the lifespan of the jets -- costs which the government doesn't typically include in cost estimates.
During question period, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae pressed the Conservatives on the issue.
"Why did the prime minister allow his ministers to present figures to Parliament that they knew were wrong by over $10 billion?" Mulcair asked.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded by saying that Mulcair is "mixing apples and oranges."
"The figures he is quoting are figures that have to do with the acquisition sustainment. The operating costs are a different figure," Harper said.
"There are not two sets of books…no such thing is true."
One of the main objections to the F-35 acquisition is that Canada joined with the U.S. and other allies in the purchase plan for the jets, rather than have an open bidding process where a number of different manufacturers would submit proposals from which Canada would choose the best option.
Another witness, Lieut.-Gen. Andre Deschamps, was asked why the F-35 was chosen. He responded by saying "the F-35 is the aircraft that we assessed in 2010 as the platform that met our needs, all our requirements."
He was then asked whether the department was looking at other options at the moment.
"Currently, from the Air Force perspective, we are focused on delivering the transition to the F-35," Deschamps responded.
