Harper quietly holds face-to-face talks with Chinese propaganda chief. One of China’s most powerful figures slipped into Ottawa unannounced.
Unless you were watching Chinese TV. Li Changchun is ranked No. 5 in the Chinese hierarchy, one of the nine members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, and the party’s propaganda chief. When he arrived in Ottawa Thursday, he met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The government of Canada had never announced the powerful official was coming. However, Mr. NDP: Tony Clement Created G8 Slush Fund. OTTAWA - A $50-million legacy fund for last year's G8 summit was run out of the local constituency office of federal minister Tony Clement, documents show — a process that allowed the Harper government to avoid scrutiny by the auditor general.
The NDP discovered the paper trail by doing an end run around the federal government and using Ontario freedom of information laws to get municipal records. The hundreds of pages of documents reveal Clement's MP office in Parry Sound, Ont., soliciting legacy project submissions more than 18 months before the June 2010 international summit in Huntsville, Ont. And despite documentary evidence that federal civil servants sat in on many of the project meetings, no records were available to the auditor general when Sheila Fraser looked into the G8 spending late last year. "There is no paper trail behind the selection of the 32 (funded) projects. Clement has since been moved to Treasury Board, where he is in charge of overseeing government spending cuts. Auditor general slams G8 spending. The wording has been softened but the auditor general’s verdict remains much the same: the Harper government kept Parliament in the dark about a $50-million G8 fund that sprayed money on dubious projects in a cabinet minister’s riding.
The final report on the G8 legacy infrastructure fund concludes that the government “did not clearly or transparently” identify how the money was going to be spent when it sought parliamentary approval for the funding. Moreover, the report criticizes the utter lack of documentation to explain how and why 32 infrastructure projects in the Parry Sound-Muskoka region in Ontario were selected to receive the government largesse. And in a separate chapter, the auditor general says spending on operations and security for the G8 and G20 meetings in Ontario was presented piecemeal to Parliament instead of in a package, leaving MPs poorly informed about total costs. “Supporting documentation is important for transparency and accountability.” Auditor blasts lack of transparency in doling out generous G8 funds.
The Conservatives hid their true intentions from Parliament when they funneled $50-million in discretionary spending in the riding of Treasury Board President Tony Clement and shielded the spending from normal checks and balances.
In her final report to Parliament, Auditor-General Sheila Fraser comes down hard on the so-called G8 Legacy Infrastructure Fund, saying the “government was not being transparent about its purpose” as its obtained approval for the funding. The controversial program was 10 times more generous than similar initiatives tied to previous summits of world leaders in Alberta and Quebec. While $50-million in federal funds were disbursed in Mr. Clement’s riding and surrounding areas, there was not a single civil servant involved in approving the 32 projects. As such, normal rules applying to such federal spending, designed to guarantee transparency and accountability, were not followed. New memos contradict Clement on G8 legacy fund. Clement defends G8 spending - Politics. Treasury Board President Tony Clement rejected the latest accusations against him related to the G8 legacy fund on Wednesday and said he will soon appear at a parliamentary committee to face his critics.
Clement made a brief statement to reporters after Wednesday morning's Conservative caucus meeting but did not answer any questions, nor did he rise in question period when queries were directed to him by opposition MPs. 'Slush fund' coverup alleged. Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION By: Amy Minsky and Elizabeth Thompson Posted: 08/16/2011 1:00 AM | Comments:
Update: Report on G8 spending won’t be released, Auditor General says. The Conservatives defended themselves Monday against allegations an Auditor General investigation had found the government misinformed Parliament on nearly $50-million in funding for projects related to last year’s G8 summit in a Tory Cabinet minister’s Ontario riding.
The Jan. 13 draft of the report by Auditor General Sheila Fraser examines the $1.2-billion in government spending on the G8 summit in Huntsville and the G20 summit in Toronto in June 2010. It alleges that the Conservatives’ handling of its G8 Legacy Infrastructure Fund, which paid for roadwork, construction and beautification projects around Industry Minister Tony Clement’s Parry Sound-Muskoka riding, raised “legal questions” about how the government spends public money.
The Tories quickly moved Monday to stamp out the controversy, calling on Ms. Fraser to release her final report into the summit spending, saying it ultimately exonerated the government’s funding processes. Ms. Canada News: Tim Harper: The silent Mr. Clement. The long, slow slide of the daily question period into irrelevancy has been well chronicled.
But in its stonewalling over the Tony Clement G8 slush fund, the Conservative government has taken it to new lows and is mocking what was once a pillar of the Parliamentary process. Clement, a senior minister in the Stephen Harper government, has become a figure of ridicule as he sits silently in his seat each day, like a child banished to the corner for a timeout.
Instead, as new revelations about his handling of a $50 million G8 Legacy Fund are ferreted out and a damning email string becomes required reading in Ottawa, the Conservatives send a designated deflector out each day to shield the neutered minister. One side of the House is holding up its end of the bargain with Canadian voters. The Conservatives go to ground, and voters deserve better. Clement sees irony of gag order on spending cuts, vows transparency. Tony Clement recognizes the irony.
The Treasury Board President’s favourite speech of late is a proclamation of the virtues of open and transparent government. Yet this week his own department issued what appears to be a government-wide gag order that would keep the details of spending cuts secret months after Budget 2012 is released. Two-tiered wage system announced by Tories. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has always vehemently denied bringing cheap foreign labour into Canada.
Employers had to pay foreign temporary workers “the prevailing wage,” he pointed out. That indeed is what the rules said – until Wednesday, when Human Resources Minister Diane Finley quietly changed them. Employers will now be allowed to pay foreign temp workers 15 per cent less than the average wage. “We are taking action to ensure that the temporary foreign worker program support our economic recovery and effectively responds to local labour market demands,” she said at a manufacturing plant in Nisku, Alta. Kenney chimed in from Ottawa.
Business leaders, eager to recruit low-cost workers abroad, were delighted. Under the new rules, foreign temporary workers will still covered by provincial employment standards, meaning they must be paid the minimum wage. Unequal wages for equal work. Unequal wages for equal work Foreign Temporary Worker program hurts job market for everyone. Dateline: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 by Mehdi Rizvi. Tories overrule officials to fund project of Baird’s ‘dear friend’ The Conservative government overruled federal bureaucrats and gave $1-million to a social hall project submitted by an Ottawa rabbi with close ties to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. After speaking to Mr. Baird, Human Resources Minister Diane Finley personally approved the project even though her officials determined it did not meet the criteria for a federal program aimed at making facilities wheelchair accessible. EI study asked recipients to consider moving - Politics.
Human Resources Minister Diane Finley's spokesperson says the minister wasn't aware of a departmental study that asked 75 people receiving employment insurance in Quebec and Atlantic Canada what would it take to get them to move to regions with more jobs. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) A new study from the Human Resources Department suggests Ottawa is looking at ways to get people receiving employment insurance to move to other regions with more jobs. Such measures would go beyond the Harper government's new policy that appears to require that some EI recipients take unfilled jobs but only in their own region.
EI changes still under wraps but details coming 'soon' - Canada. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley won't confirm whether planned changes to Employment Insurance will target repeat users, but said the details will be announced "soon" and that they will benefit people using the program. In an interview with Evan Solomon that is airing Saturday on CBC's The House, Finley was asked several times about a report that said upcoming changes to EI will require repeat users to accept lower-paying jobs than people using the program for the first time. "We haven't announced the details yet but we will be going forward. What we want to do is make sure every Canadian who is working is better off working than being on EI," Finley said. "The details are going to be announced in the coming weeks and months and what I can assure you is they are going to be fair and they're going to be reasonable.
" Finley did not say the report was wrong when asked, but she did not confirm its content. "Those details have not been released, we haven’t explained what they will be. LEGISinfo - House Government Bill C-31. Bill C-31: Tories' Human Smuggling Reforms Could Land More Asylum Seekers In Canada's Jails. At the whim of the public safety minister, refugee claimants could face incarceration in provincial jails for one year without review under a major overhaul of Canada’s immigration system. The provisions are contained in Bill C-31, which the Tories laud as a crackdown on queue jumpers and illegal smugglers who exploit Canada’s generous social safety net.
Bev Oda has a perfectly rational explanation for living like a pasha at taxpayer expense. Right Bev? REUTERS/Chris WattieBev Oda. Here’s a challenge for eager young Conservative spokespeople on their way up. It’s an important opportunity: The PMO goes through media flacks like Liberals go through leaders. There’s sure to be another opening soon, so this is a chance to make your name. Oda pays back taxpayers for luxury hotel upgrade - Politics.
International Development Minister Bev Oda has reimbursed taxpayers $1,353.81 after revelations about a lavish hotel stay and luxury transportation in London, England prompted controversy on Parliament Hill Monday. Oda made the repayment Monday morning, according to her office, after documents obtained by the Canadian Press showed she refused to stay at a five-star hotel last June and had her staff rebook her at the swanky Savoy hotel for more than double the cost. Her office said she followed all Treasury Board guidelines and that when she travels Oda considers "the most appropriate, cost-effective accommodations. " Although the policies for ministers' offices suggest ministers "refer" to the government's travel directive, in fact it does not appear that any Treasury Board rules govern ministerial travel specifically.
The travel directive suggests a maximum hotel charge for London, England not exceed $319. Oda was originally supposed to stay at the Grange St. Amended CIDA document. Opposition steps up pressure for Oda resignation over altered document. Harper ignores calls for Oda's resignation over altered aid document. International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda. Oda shielding Harper over altered document uproar: Opposition. In wake of Oda controversy, Ottawa must explain why aid decisions are made.
How the Toews-sponsored Internet surveillance bill quietly died. The Internet surveillance legislation sponsored by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has disappeared down a dark legislative hole. Omar Khadr transfer request now in Toews' hands. Vic Toews’ bizarre plan to introduce his own personal inflation rate to prison. CSIS freed from final shreds of oversight. If you are a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or refugee to this country and you are even the least bit aware of the rights and civil liberties that Canada affords you, then you should be deeply worried today. Canada News: Walkom: Harper government’s dismissal of UN torture report absurd. Officially, Canada decries torture. Lies, damn lies and Vic Toews. Harper, Tory MPs challenge Peter Kent on climate science. MacKay announces $113M in new funding for veterans. Chapter 2—Replacing Canada’s Fighter Jets. How the Conservatives corrupted the F-35 procurement process - Ottawa liberal. Harper, MacKay must have known $25-billion costs of F-35 fighter jets, and procurement rules, it’s ‘inconceivable,’ says expert.
Feds have no intention of changing course on F-35s: plans and priorities document. F-35 fighter jet cost questions date back to 2010 - Politics. Auditor-General's F-35 accounting complaints are déjà vu for Peter MacKay: Andrew Coyne. Countdown begins as Ottawa ‘Canadianizes’ F-35 figures. No evidence Tories misled House on F-35 costs, Speaker rules. Canada News: F-35 fighters: Peter MacKay aware two years ago of additional $10B cost. Latest defence department blunder could mean an end to Peter Mackay’s political career. Conservatives stifling information flow on military spending: sources. MacKay defends use of military search-and-rescue chopper. Military bid to dig up dirt on opposition MPs after MacKay's helicopter ride 'stupid' Canada News: Military did damage control in wake of Peter MacKay’s helicopter flight. E-mails contradict MacKay’s explanation for chopper request. MPs call for MacKay to resign; Harper calls helicopter use ‘appropriate’ MacKay threatens to sue MPs who questioned veracity of chopper tale.
Shame falls to Minister MacKay. Defence.professionals. The Ministry. RCMP conducted 5-month probe into leaked F-35 story - Politics. Joint Strike Fighter purchase could cost $16 billion. Www.pm.gc.ca/grfx/docs/cabinet.pdf. Www.pm.gc.ca/grfx/docs/Cab_committee-comite.pdf. The Canadian Ministry (Cabinet) Tories’ version of accountability is full-on attack. Harper government losing its sheen. Harper government pilloried in Commons over pension report 'coverup' Stephen Harper promised accountable government but hasn’t delivered.