The Canadian Liberal government looks set to purchase Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets as an interim measure prior to commencing a competition that would likely include the F-35.
Sources have told Canada's National Post that the government is concerned about the prospect of replacing the RCAF's ageing CF-18 Hornet fleet, having won an election in 2014 promising to cancel the former Conservative government's selection of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
But the government of Justin Trudeau is also worried that it could become the target for a costly lawsuit levelled by F-35 builder Lockheed Martin, should it completely rule out the JSF as a replacement for the CF-18s.
Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who visited Australia recently, has warned of a capability gap in years ahead and said that the government would act quickly to prevent this from occurring, but did not confirm whether any decision had been made.
Australia also purchased 24 Super Hornets in 2011, after it became clear the F-35 program would be delayed.
The former Canadian Conservative government announced in 2010 that Canada would be buying 65 F-35s, with the first to be delivered in 2015. However it was forced to shelve the decision after questions about the program revealed the jets would cost $C46 billion over their lifetimes.