November 20th was supposed to be decision day at the Department of National Defence. A more apt description might be deflection day.

For nearly a decade, the military’s surveillance planes known as the Auroras have been undergoing $1.6 billion in upgrades.

The purpose? To enhance the fleet’s capabilities.

But in September, CBC News first reported that the project had been suspended. Defence Minister Peter MacKay confirmed his department was re-evaluating things. This after nearly a billion dollars had already been spent on the upgrades.

Those who fly the planes and those who make a living maintaining them were expecting to learn about their future Tuesday. That is whether the minister favoured continuing on with the upgrades, or buying a whole new fleet of aircraft. It was on this day the stop work order expired.

But the minister’s office would reveal no such thing.

Why? Spokesman Jay Paxton said, “The minister's attention is focused on the repatriation of soldiers Corporal Beauchamp and Private Levesque." Those are the two Van Doos recently killed in Afghanistan.

When pressed for an explanation as to why the repatriation ceremony would prevent the minister, his department or his staff from revealing their decision, the minister's director of communications, Dan Dugas, said: “The minister is busy with other things. Is that the answer you'd prefer?”

Meanwhile, those with an interest in the project are busy trying to get the lay of the land. And all indications are a decision has been made.

Retired Aurora pilot Terry Chester says his DND contacts tell him the military and the minister have decided not to proceed with the project. And sources within I.M.P Group International, the Halifax firm that does maintenance on the fleet say, “There is no doubt it will be terminated.”

Now, I.M.P’s fear is as many as 1500 of its employees will be out of work.

Pilots and employees may have to wait a little longer for confirmation though. The minister and his department didn’t just keep their decision to themselves.

They provided no indication as to when they might reveal it.