The Liberals are pressing the Commons government operations committee to publicly investigate allegations of shoddy construction work and contracting practices at Defence Construction Canada.
Liberal MP John McCallum proposed a motion for the probe at a public meeting of the committee Monday, but said he's braced for any debate on the motion to be done behind closed doors and opposed by the Conservatives.
A report recently given to the defence committee by the Union of National Defence Employees suggests taxpayers are paying for shoddy work at Defence Department buildings and are being overcharged by private contractors for services in military installations across the country. The work is being handled by Defence Construction, a Crown corporation that's part of the Public Works and Government Services portfolio.
With a majority, the Conservatives have been able to force issues that used to be discussed at public meetings to behind closed doors.
"The allegations are serious and certainly we think merits investigations," said McCallum.
"But the modus operandi has been in camera and I am sure they (Conservatives) will attempt to do that and we will resist, but they will have the vote," said McCallum. "But this is a bigger issue than one motion. This is the government that rode in on the white horse of accountability and transparency and they are now doing the opposite."
McCallum said the issues raised by the report warrant a public airing. He said no one can determine the veracity of the allegations without a further probe, particularly because the union that presented the report has a "vested interest."
McCallum said the allegations raise questions of financial propriety, technical inconsistencies and claims the Crown corporation provided a "soft landing for military personnel" that should be explored. He said the government seems intent on burying anything that has a mere whiff of wrongdoing.
An increasing number of committees have been pushing the limits of the rules to conduct more of their work in camera. Conservative MP Mike Wallace had earlier attempted a motion that could have permanently forced all future business of the government operations committee behind closed doors, but he has since backed off.
Defence Construction was established in 1951 to help the Defence Department handle its major real estate property projects. Last year, the Crown corporation completed 2,500 projects and awarded $800 million in new contracts. Much of that work was for construction.
The union, which represents DND's construction engineering staff, claims it warned the department of problems, but nothing was done and unionized workers were often called in to fix problems left by private contractors. The report includes photos of questionable construction and invoices.
Defence Construction officials have defended its staff and argue the agency has all the proper procedures in place to manage contracts and ensure the government is getting what it pays for and taxpayers are getting value for money.
The union argues the agency's mandate has expanded and the department is giving the agency work that used to be done by its construction engineering staff and has become a "landing spot" for Canadian Forces personnel who used to determine the work that went to the agency. The agency now has 1,000 staff as the department girds for major job cuts as the government unrolls its sweeping spending review.
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Kathryn May
Liberal MP John McCallum proposed a motion for the probe at a public meeting of the committee Monday, but said he's braced for any debate on the motion to be done behind closed doors and opposed by the Conservatives.
A report recently given to the defence committee by the Union of National Defence Employees suggests taxpayers are paying for shoddy work at Defence Department buildings and are being overcharged by private contractors for services in military installations across the country. The work is being handled by Defence Construction, a Crown corporation that's part of the Public Works and Government Services portfolio.
With a majority, the Conservatives have been able to force issues that used to be discussed at public meetings to behind closed doors.
"The allegations are serious and certainly we think merits investigations," said McCallum.
"But the modus operandi has been in camera and I am sure they (Conservatives) will attempt to do that and we will resist, but they will have the vote," said McCallum. "But this is a bigger issue than one motion. This is the government that rode in on the white horse of accountability and transparency and they are now doing the opposite."
McCallum said the issues raised by the report warrant a public airing. He said no one can determine the veracity of the allegations without a further probe, particularly because the union that presented the report has a "vested interest."
McCallum said the allegations raise questions of financial propriety, technical inconsistencies and claims the Crown corporation provided a "soft landing for military personnel" that should be explored. He said the government seems intent on burying anything that has a mere whiff of wrongdoing.
An increasing number of committees have been pushing the limits of the rules to conduct more of their work in camera. Conservative MP Mike Wallace had earlier attempted a motion that could have permanently forced all future business of the government operations committee behind closed doors, but he has since backed off.
Defence Construction was established in 1951 to help the Defence Department handle its major real estate property projects. Last year, the Crown corporation completed 2,500 projects and awarded $800 million in new contracts. Much of that work was for construction.
The union, which represents DND's construction engineering staff, claims it warned the department of problems, but nothing was done and unionized workers were often called in to fix problems left by private contractors. The report includes photos of questionable construction and invoices.
Defence Construction officials have defended its staff and argue the agency has all the proper procedures in place to manage contracts and ensure the government is getting what it pays for and taxpayers are getting value for money.
The union argues the agency's mandate has expanded and the department is giving the agency work that used to be done by its construction engineering staff and has become a "landing spot" for Canadian Forces personnel who used to determine the work that went to the agency. The agency now has 1,000 staff as the department girds for major job cuts as the government unrolls its sweeping spending review.
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Kathryn May
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