Cabinet ministers were aware of Fighter-Jet program issues: auditor general
Posted Apr 5, 2012 02:52:58 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, Ont. – The auditor general has said cabinet ministers were aware of cost overruns in the fighter jet program, following a report released on Tuesday.
During a House of Commons committee meeting, Thursday, Michael Ferguson confirmed the government knew the program was in the $25 billion range, but in March 2011, the parliamentary budget officer was only given a price tag for more than $14 billion.
Up until this point, Ferguson had not said any ministers were aware of the $10 billion gap, but during the meeting, he revealed that the cabinet would have known well before March 2011. He did not say, however, which individuals had the data.
The news is angering members of both the NDP and the Liberal party, who have accused the Harper Tories of leading a hypocritical government for almost two years.
“This is a Prime Minister who when he was in opposition, used the accountability word each and every day,” said interim Liberal leader Bob Rae. “He’s now leading a government which is an exercise in organized hypocrisy. They are not prepared to accept any consequences. They’re not even prepared to tell the truth.”
“There is nothing more fundamental to this house, than the fact that this house be told the truth by its government,” he added.
“They intentionally misled the Canadian public, they intentionally misled Parliament, they intentionally put that information out in the 2011 election and we’re all played for suckers,” said Liberal John McKay, adding that this proves what the opposition has been claiming for nearly two years.
When asked during Question Period when he had these numbers, Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not directly answer.
“What the auditor general in fact did say, is that in terms of his report, the government is taking steps in the right direction. Of course he also confirms that no money has been spent on this acquisition,” he said.
“We’re taking additional steps to independently verify that information. We will be fully transparent with Parliament on that issue.”
The opposition parties, meanwhile, are looking at their options, but it could be weeks before the speaker rules on whether MP’s privileges have been breached. As a result, they have not ruled out filing a complaint with the ethics commissioner.
