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Canada could pull out of the F-35 project without facing financial penalties but a Liberal government likely wouldn’t be able to exclude the plane’s manufacturer from bidding in an open competition for a new fighter jet, says a former top defence procurement official.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said on the weekend that, if elected, his government would not buy the controversial stealth plane. Instead it would hold an open competition for others and select a cheaper alternative. Trudeau said he would then redirect any savings into the Canadian navy, which needs more money for shipbuilding.

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Alan Williams, who signed the original memorandum that brought Canada into the F-35 program, said a Liberal government could withdraw because the country has not yet officially committed to purchase any aircraft. “There would be no penalty,” explained Williams. “We could walk away.”

An independent audit on Canada’s proposed F-35 project found the purchase of the aircraft would cost $44 billion over the 42-year life of the plane. That figure includes everything from maintenance to fuel.