Martin fires back after procurement criticism
Former prime minister Paul Martin is telling Defence Minister Peter MacKay to quit playing the blame game when it comes to botched procurements.
At a stop in Halifax Thursday to promote the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative at a Canadian Teachers’ Federation conference at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, Martin said MacKay should deal with his own problems instead of trying to unload them onto others.
One day earlier, MacKay called the contract for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopters “the worst procurement in the history of Canada.”
The Cyclone purchase, now badly behind schedule, was started by the Martin Liberals in 2004.
MacKay said the Conservatives were bound to the contract and cancelling it would mean pushing back the replacement of the aging Sea King helicopters by another decade.
He also said that was something the Liberals did in 1993 when they cancelled a previous contract to replace the aging Sea Kings.
Martin accused MacKay of trying to distract attention from his own troubled procurement contract — the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
“I just think he’s got a problem with the F-35s and he should deal with it,” said Martin when asked about MacKay’s comments.
“He should look into the mirror with regard to the jet problems. All he’s trying to do is offload his problems.”
Auditor general Michael Ferguson earlier this year released a scathing report saying the Defence Department downplayed the true costs of the jets by billions of dollars and the Public Works Department did not follow proper procedures in selecting the F-35s.
The government subsequently set up a new secretariat under Public Works to review the multibillion-dollar purchase.
The Defence Department must now also determine how much it will fine Cyclone manufacturer Sikorsky Inc. for missing a June 30 deadline to deliver the helicopters. Sikorsky had previously been granted a 43-month extension.
The government is able to fine Sikorsky $80.6 million for breach of contract, but it hasn’t said if it will do that, though the Defence Department has signalled it will level “significant” fines against Sikorsky.
The Cyclones were supposed to start arriving in 2008 but a single functional helicopter has yet to be delivered.
The Cyclone contract has doubled in size from initial estimates. In 2004, the Sea King’s replacements were pegged at $2.8 billion. In 2010, former federal auditor general Sheila Fraser put the cost at $5.7 billion.
Postmedia reported Thursday that the government is also putting the brakes on an $800-million military truck procurement just days before bids were due in.
The government cited changing “budgetary circumstances” as the reason for the move.
Original Article
Source: the chronicle herald
Author: PAUL McLEOD
Former prime minister Paul Martin is telling Defence Minister Peter MacKay to quit playing the blame game when it comes to botched procurements.
At a stop in Halifax Thursday to promote the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative at a Canadian Teachers’ Federation conference at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, Martin said MacKay should deal with his own problems instead of trying to unload them onto others.
One day earlier, MacKay called the contract for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopters “the worst procurement in the history of Canada.”
The Cyclone purchase, now badly behind schedule, was started by the Martin Liberals in 2004.
MacKay said the Conservatives were bound to the contract and cancelling it would mean pushing back the replacement of the aging Sea King helicopters by another decade.
He also said that was something the Liberals did in 1993 when they cancelled a previous contract to replace the aging Sea Kings.
Martin accused MacKay of trying to distract attention from his own troubled procurement contract — the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
“I just think he’s got a problem with the F-35s and he should deal with it,” said Martin when asked about MacKay’s comments.
“He should look into the mirror with regard to the jet problems. All he’s trying to do is offload his problems.”
Auditor general Michael Ferguson earlier this year released a scathing report saying the Defence Department downplayed the true costs of the jets by billions of dollars and the Public Works Department did not follow proper procedures in selecting the F-35s.
The government subsequently set up a new secretariat under Public Works to review the multibillion-dollar purchase.
The Defence Department must now also determine how much it will fine Cyclone manufacturer Sikorsky Inc. for missing a June 30 deadline to deliver the helicopters. Sikorsky had previously been granted a 43-month extension.
The government is able to fine Sikorsky $80.6 million for breach of contract, but it hasn’t said if it will do that, though the Defence Department has signalled it will level “significant” fines against Sikorsky.
The Cyclones were supposed to start arriving in 2008 but a single functional helicopter has yet to be delivered.
The Cyclone contract has doubled in size from initial estimates. In 2004, the Sea King’s replacements were pegged at $2.8 billion. In 2010, former federal auditor general Sheila Fraser put the cost at $5.7 billion.
Postmedia reported Thursday that the government is also putting the brakes on an $800-million military truck procurement just days before bids were due in.
The government cited changing “budgetary circumstances” as the reason for the move.
Original Article
Source: the chronicle herald
Author: PAUL McLEOD
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