Wikipedia - Setting Them Straight

The Wikipedia hubbub - from Wikipedia:

On 16 July 2010, the Canadian government announced that it would buy 65 F-35s to replace the existing 80 CF-18s for $16B (with all ancillary costs included) starting in 2016. Opposition Liberal Party Leader Michael Ignatieff immediately called for the House of Commons defence committee to reconvene as soon as possible and examine the purchase, calling it a "secretive, unaccountable decision to proceed with this contract." Ignatieff has claimed they would put the sole-sourced contract on hold should they form the next government. The purchase announcement has created Canadian media speculation that, with the national opposition parties uniting against the sole-source contract, that this may bring down the minority Conservative government and force an election over the issue. The media have criticized the aircraft as being too short-ranged and far too complex for Canada's needs.[170][171][172][173][174][175] Michael Byers, Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia characterized the purchase of the F-35 as a "pig in a poke" and stated that it is too expensive, short-ranged and unneeded.[176] Maj.-Gen. Tom Lawson has said that the F-35's stealth could be helpful in defending Canada's sovereignty as Russian bombers would be faced with an undetectable threshold.[177]

One might reasonably ask, "Why do we care what Michael Ignatieff thinks and what he speculates he might do - how is that appropriately included in an encyclopediac entry on the F-35?"

One might reasonably ask, "Why is there no reference in the "Canada" details to the fact that the development of the F-35 was contracted by the Liberal party under Jean Chretien?"

One might also add that "The Media have criticized the conduct of Michael Ignatieff and his Defence Critic, Ujjal Dosanjh for threatening to set aside the contract, referencing past errors of the Liberal government under Jean Chretien in cancelling an existing contract to replace the aging Sea King Helicopter fleet that ultimate cost Canadian taxpayers $500 million and resulted in delays such that 20 years later, the fleet has still not been replaced [1], suggesting that it evidences a willingness for the Liberal party to "make the same political mistakes over and over again". [2]

One might also add that the decision to buy the aircraft means Canadians can compete for contracts worth billions of dollars of work for the projected 3,000 F-35s to be built for the participating countries -- about two-thirds for the U.S. military, said Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose. Canada, as a partner with eight other countries under the U.S.-led partnership in the program, had already invested $168 million into the choice and development of fighters among competing designs. Industry Minister Tony Clement said 85 Canadian companies, research laboratories and universities have already done $350-million worth of contracts for development of the fighter.[3]