The emails show that on Sept. 22, one day after a TV report that MacKay had used a Cormorant helicopter to be taken from a private fishing lodge near Gander, N.L., military officials began searching for instances of opposition members using military aircraft.
The officials were particularly interested in a flight Liberal MP Scott Simms took in the same area in January 2011.
"Found it," Maj. Byron Johnson wrote in a message shortly after noon to five other senior military officers, including an officer serving as the Defence Department's liaison with MacKay's office. "Fax is on its way."
"Thanks Byron," replied Maj. Jay Nelles, before thanking staff for responding on such short notice and describing the request as "a taste of life in Ottawa!!"
MacKay used the information to hit back at Simms in the House of Commons in the following days and weeks, even though the emails show MacKay's office ordered the Jan. 17, 2011 flight to educate Simms about the military's search-and-rescue capabilities.
On Friday morning, MacKay delivered a 20-minute speech to military officials and industry representatives at Ottawa's Chateau Laurier before speed walking through the hotel, refusing to respond to the trail of reporters following behind.
The country's top soldier, Gen. Walter Natynczyk, who was also attending the conference, said he was unaware of the specifics of the emails. He would not comment on whether military personnel had been inappropriately used for political purposes or whether an investigation would be launched.
Liberal defence critic John McKay blasted the government for pulling department staff, who are supposed to be unbiased and politically neutral, into the imbroglio.
"Using the military — military records, military resources, military officers — to try to acquire that political knowledge for debating purposes in the House of Commons is utterly, completely inappropriate," he said.
A spokesman for MacKay later defended the search, saying in an email that the parliamentary debate was about MPs riding on military assets.
"Information about this flight was relevant to understand in what other instances MPs had flown," the spokesman wrote.
The cost of picking MacKay up at Gander River in Newfoundland has been pegged at $16,000. He was taken to the Gander airport, from which he flew to a government announcement in Ontario.
MacKay had told the House of Commons the ride was part of a pre-planned military demonstration, but separate emails made public in December indicated that was a story concocted to protect the minister from embarrassment for having used the Cormorant to get to Gander airport rather than taking a two-hour boat and car ride.
The new emails reconfirm senior military officers at 1 Canadian Air Division initially "recommended not to support" the request, which was submitted by personnel in the minister's office several days before the minister was due in London, Ont., for an announcement.
"Following some discussion," however, the request was approved, pending availability of the helicopters and provided the pickup did not interfere with any search-and-rescue missions.
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Lee Berthiaume
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