OTTAWA – The federal government may halt its plan to purchase a fleet of F-35 fighter jets and consider other options after an auditor’s report pegged the lifespan cost of the jets at nearly $46 billion.

“We are now pressing the reset on this acquisition in order to ensure a balance between military needs and taxpayer interests,” said Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

“To do so, we need to have all viable options on the table.”

The government originally said the life-cycle cost would be around $15 billion when the intent to purchase the fleet was announced two years ago.

The government has said it can acquire the jets within $9 billion but the independent analysis from KPMG warns that the overall acquisition could end up exceeding the budget to replace the CF-18.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair says the feds should have held an open competition for replacement fighter jets.

“That’s what they did wrong. They sole-sourced this contract,” he said.

“That’s the best way to be played for a chump by the company that you’re dealing with and that’s what’s happened in this case.”

The government is now looking at other options to replace the CF-18s.

“Any aircraft the government chooses will come with a significant price tag,” said Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose.

“That is why we’re doing a full options analysis so that we can compare cost and capability of all of the aircraft that are out there.”

The feds say they will follow a seven-point plan to acquire the new jets and no decision has been made.