AN embarrassing series of emails continues to put the lie to Conservative claims to be pure as the driven snow. That’s how they first came to office, promising their administration would be open, honest, transparent and free from the fiascoes that dogged the Liberals when they got too comfy. What a difference five years makes.
The latest dust-up involves Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s increasingly desperate efforts to justify using a search and rescue helicopter to get from a Newfoundland fishing trip to a meeting in London, Ont.
When questions arose, MacKay said the whole thing had been planned as a way for him to participate in a practice exercise. Ironically, the big chopper’s pilot could not find a place to land at the remote fishing camp and the crew had to hoist MacKay aboard in a basket.
Emails released through access to information show MacKay’s office requested a helicopter on the grounds he had a last-minute need to “unexpectedly” head to London. So much for the ruse about a pre-planned demonstration for the minister, who uses government aircraft more than any other cabinet minister.
Other emails from senior defence officials warn that the optics of the ministerial flight from a fishing holiday were bad. And yet, MacKay sticks to his story.
So does Treasury Board president Tony Clement who first insisted he had nothing to do with approval of a vast series of projects to beautify his riding in advance of the G8 summit of world leaders in Huntsville last year.
Emails show his riding office firmly in charge of decisions about which municipality got how much money for 33 projects, most of which were far from the resort meeting site. The fund was worth $50 million. Other Canadian cities that have hosted G8 meetings have received legacy funding of around $5 million.
New documents obtained by the Canadian Press under access to information directly contradict claims by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief spokesman that bureaucrats have not been directed to replace the words Government of Canada with “Harper Government” in departmental news releases and other information.
It is doubtful most Canadians think that Harper personalizing their government in his name is a good idea. Neither, we think, will they look kindly upon apparent deceit by cabinet ministers.
Origin
Source: Chronicle Journal
The latest dust-up involves Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s increasingly desperate efforts to justify using a search and rescue helicopter to get from a Newfoundland fishing trip to a meeting in London, Ont.
When questions arose, MacKay said the whole thing had been planned as a way for him to participate in a practice exercise. Ironically, the big chopper’s pilot could not find a place to land at the remote fishing camp and the crew had to hoist MacKay aboard in a basket.
Emails released through access to information show MacKay’s office requested a helicopter on the grounds he had a last-minute need to “unexpectedly” head to London. So much for the ruse about a pre-planned demonstration for the minister, who uses government aircraft more than any other cabinet minister.
Other emails from senior defence officials warn that the optics of the ministerial flight from a fishing holiday were bad. And yet, MacKay sticks to his story.
So does Treasury Board president Tony Clement who first insisted he had nothing to do with approval of a vast series of projects to beautify his riding in advance of the G8 summit of world leaders in Huntsville last year.
Emails show his riding office firmly in charge of decisions about which municipality got how much money for 33 projects, most of which were far from the resort meeting site. The fund was worth $50 million. Other Canadian cities that have hosted G8 meetings have received legacy funding of around $5 million.
New documents obtained by the Canadian Press under access to information directly contradict claims by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief spokesman that bureaucrats have not been directed to replace the words Government of Canada with “Harper Government” in departmental news releases and other information.
It is doubtful most Canadians think that Harper personalizing their government in his name is a good idea. Neither, we think, will they look kindly upon apparent deceit by cabinet ministers.
Origin
Source: Chronicle Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment