F-35 audit a costly reminder to make bureaucrats accountable

The public service needs a culture of outcomes, not optics. That means making executives accountable, and, yes, having the courage to dismiss those who fail in ways that cost Canadians millions.

One of Auditor General Karen Hogan’s latest reports found that the F-35 procurement jumped $8.7-billion over the budget outlined two years before.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY RAM MATHILAKATH

June 25, 2025

It’s happened again. Another auditor general report, another billion-dollar boondoggle. This time, it’s the F-35 procurement saga—proof that when it comes to major federal projects, we’ve somehow normalized cost overruns like it’s just part of doing business.

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