The "Harper F-35 story" is one of the most famous examples of how a military purchase can turn into a decade-long political soap opera. It’s a mix of a famous cockpit photo, a massive budget fight, and a major election promise that was eventually broken.

1. The "Photo-Op" (2010)

In July 2010, the Harper government announced it would buy 65 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters to replace the aging CF-18s.

• The Image: To sell the idea, the government held a press conference where Defense Minister Peter MacKay was famously photographed sitting in a life-sized model of the F-35 cockpit.
• The Strategy: Harper chose to "sole-source" the jet, meaning there was no competition. The government argued the F-35 was the only jet advanced enough for Canada's needs.

2. The "Sticker Shock" Scandal (2011–2012)

The deal began to fall apart when the estimated price tag started changing wildly:

• The Low-Ball: Harper’s government originally told Canadians the jets would cost about $9 billion to buy and $16 billion to maintain over 20 years.
• The Reality Check: The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) and later the Auditor General accused the government of hiding the "true" costs.
• The KPMG Audit: A subsequent independent audit by KPMG revealed the total "life-cycle" cost was actually closer to $45.8 billion. This made the government look like they were either incompetent or being dishonest about the price.

3. The "Reset" (2012–2015)

Embarrassed by the cost scandal, the Harper government "reset" the project in 2012. They took the decision away from the Department of National Defence and created a special committee to re-evaluate all options. By the time the 2015 election rolled around, they still hadn't signed a final contract.

4. The Trudeau Twist (2015–2023)

During the 2015 election, Justin Trudeau campaigned on a famous promise: "We will not buy the F-35." He called it a "failed" project and promised to buy a cheaper jet.

• The Flip-Flop: After years of legal battles and a new open competition, the Trudeau government eventually admitted the F-35 was the best choice.
• The Final Deal (2023): Ironically, Trudeau ended up buying 88 jets (more than Harper's original 65) at a total life-cycle cost estimated at $70 billion.

Summary Table: Harper vs. Trudeau F-35

The Bottom Line: Harper started the F-35 journey with a photo-op that backfired, and Trudeau finished it by buying the very plane he promised to scrap—just more of them and at a higher price.

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