OTTAWA—Ottawa’s point man on the F-35 stealth fighter purchase says the Harper government has not discounted backing out of the troubled program.

Julian Fantino, associate defence minister, made the comment today before a House of Commons committee.

He says the government remains committed to buying the radar-evading jet, but noted once again that no contract has been signed.

A formal deal could be signed next year and much of the public debate has been around the government’s 2010 announcement that it intended to buy the highly automated manned fighter.

Fantino told the all-party defence committee that the government is considering “if and when” to sign a contract.

His comments represent a significant step back from the strident defence the Harper government has offered for the costly, long-delayed program.

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