Perhaps to save Ppruners some time.
From the full Canadian AG report
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)
2.34 (Industry Benefits) .. Moreover, in the majority of cases, only the most optimistic scenario was put forward, rather than a range of potential benefits that reflected the inherent uncertainties in the projections.
2.57 ...To support the use of this (competition) exception, National Defence was required to identify its operational requirements and to provide a full justification to PWGSC. Neither was provided to PWGSC in a timely manner, despite several requests from PWGSC. PWGSC was not given a copy of the statement of operational requirement until August 2010, well after the government had announced its decision to purchase the F-35 in July 2010.
2. 60 ....Practically speaking, by 2010, Canada was too involved in the JSF Program and the F-35 to run a fair competition.
2.62 ... As noted in the introduction to this chapter, the JSF Program has experienced cost increases, schedule delays, and technological difficulties, and has been subject to several major reviews. Officials from National Defence who participated in the senior decision-making committees of the JSF Program were regularly informed of these problems. Yet in briefing materials from 2006 through 2010 that we have reviewed, neither the Minister nor decision makers in National Defence and central agencies were kept informed of these problems and the associated risks of relying on the F-35 to replace the CF-18.
and the headline info
2.68 National Defence internal estimate for 20 year costs (Jun 2010) $25 bn
National Defence estimate provided to Parliament (Mar 2011) $15 bn
My Conclusion.
It will be very hard for there not to be a competition in Canada now.
LowObservable - Thanks for the slip info. This now puts the max rate production (when the Canadians say they will buy) beyond the latest In-Service date for the CF-18. More costs whatever the consequences.