Quelle Surprise! Procurement By Political Fiat

Via The Galloping Beaver, we learn some more of the details of the government's purchase of "heavy lift" capability for the military.

Last August they signalled that any open, accountable procurement process was going out the window, and sure enough, that's what they've done.

I don't have a problem with reinvesting in our military. However, I want us to define what the purpose of our military is, and to equip it appropriately. I've often heard the snarky "built by the lowest bidder" comment used in reference to military gear, but the fact is that the military is able to specify what its equipment must be able to do. The public tender process exists not only to allow vendors other than the current minister's friends in the door, but also to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used in a prudent, reasonable fashion.

Somehow, the multiple billions on the C-17's doesn't sound so appealing when we could have leased the capability for 20 years at a considerable fraction of the cost. (Especially for the frequency that we seem to wind up needing heavy lift capabilities ... unless of course our Gnu Government has more aggressive plans for Canada's forces that they are keeping quiet about)