Chretien defends spending on jets

CBC News ^ | October 20 2003

[knighthawk]

BANGKOK - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has dismissed reports that his government recklessly misspent millions of taxpayers dollars.

According to Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report, the Chrétien government misspent $100 million on Bombardier jets, spent money on advertising firms with Liberal connections and misused money for partisan polling.

Some of the findings of Fraser's next report, which isn't due until late next month, were leaked to The Globe and Mail on the weekend.

Meeting with reporters at the APEC summit in Bangkok, Chrétien said he doesn't comment on leaks but defended the purchase of the jets.

"We wanted to have Canadian planes. I don't think the Americans travel in French planes," he said. "I wanted to have Canadian planes for the ministers to show off a Canadian product. So I don't see the problem."

But the contract wasn't publicly tendered as required by the government's own regulations.

The purchase was also pushed through just before the end of the 2002 fiscal year over the objections of government bureaucrats.

Opposition MPs criticized the government for trying to cover up the purchase.

They argued there was nothing wrong with the government's existing fleet of Challengers and the money should have been spent to replace the military's aging and accident-prone fleet of Sea King helicopters.

Meanwhile, Chrétien told reporters that Russia intends to ratify the Kyoto accord on global warming.

He said he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin who told him some elements of the agreement are being negotiated, but Russia does intend to implement the accord.

Last month Putin appeared to be backing away from Kyoto.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Falcon4.0]

They need those bombers to drop "WE SURRENDER" leaflets.

[facedown]

Meanwhile, Chrétien told reporters that Russia intends to ratify the Kyoto accord on global warming.

Sure, I trust Jean on this.

[Unam Sanctam]

What, corruption by this jerk? Why am I not surprised?

[dk/coro]

Yes indeed !!! The Cinooks deserve him. Until the populace (especially from Ontario, Eastward) gets its act together, we should make life as uncomfortable for these global free-loaders as we can.

You should see the once shipshape Naval Headquarters at Esquimalt. It has grass knee-high everywhere; and broken glass window panes in many of its buildings, etc. Really, a national disgrace.

So, what to do..? Keep encouraging their doctors to re-locate down here -- those that have fled across the border, just for openers. And their nurses, technicians, etc. T he** with the rest of the pie-in-the-sky riff-raff.
Let 'em eat seal meat in Gander...in February.

Tuff love works wonders, sometimes.

[Dr. Luv]

"Let 'em eat seal meat in Gander...in February"

Now there's a way we make friends and influence people - wish harm on those who have stood by us when we needed them most.

http://www.theganderconnection.org/

http://www.gambo929.homestead.com/

http://www.ua929.org/

http://users.pandora.be/StuckInGander/

http://groups.msn.com/TheRefugeesofAirFranceFlight004/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

http://www.thankstogander.de/

I will never cease to be astonished at the hate and stupidity regurgitated by some of us here at those who deserve it least...

No wonder we have so few friends in this world...