[karl262]

In fact it was reported nearly two years ago by the Globe and Mail, in the same June 11, 2010, story that first stamped what is now conceded to be an incomplete accounting on the public mind. Drawing on "secret cabinet documents," the paper reported that the total cost of the as-yet-unannounced purchase of 65 jets was not $9 billion, as it had earlier reported, but $16 billion, once maintenance costs of $7 billion over 20 years were factored in. However, way at the bottom of the story there appears this note: "In addition, the government is predicting that the operating costs to fly the stealth fighters over two decades will reach $9.6 billion."

There it was, all this time, hiding in plain sight. The Globe didn't realize its significance, and neither did anyone else. It's clear from the story that the number the government was working with internally was $26 billion. Yet $16 billion became the standard figure in public discussion.

For its part, the government did as little as possible to dispel that impression. Defence department statements at the time make no mention of maintenance or operating costs, but only the $9 billion cost of acquisition. The first acknowledgment of any additional costs I can find is the Oct. 19, 2010, appearance by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Defence (Materiel), Dan Ross, before the Commons Defence committee, in which he refers vaguely to "sustaining" costs of $250 million to $300 million per year.



Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Andre...#ixzz1reUcqP5r

Well there you go then...we had full cost disclosure on Oct 19, 2010.