Misappropriation of $50 Million for the G8
OTTAWA – In a letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Liberal Party of Canada has asked for an investigation into the potentially illegal use of $50 million by the Harper Conservatives after money was misappropriated from the Border Infrastructure Fund to pay for G8 Legacy projects in Conservative Minister Tony Clement’s riding.
“The Conservatives’ G8 spending spree was more than an abuse of power – we believe they may have broken the law,” said Ralph Goodale, Liberal candidate for Wascana, in a press conference today. “The Auditor General’s leaked draft report points to the Conservatives’ blatant ploy to swindle Parliament and Canadians – and a public paper trail shows the law may have been broken.”
In a press conference today, Mr. Goodale and Liberal candidates Marlene Jennings and Anita Vandenbeld, presented a step-by-step examination of how the Conservatives misappropriated $50 million from the Border Infrastructure Fund to G8 Legacy projects.
“Parliament gave Minister Baird funding to enhance safety and security at border crossings and reduce congestion – not to build wooden lighthouses and public toilets in Tony Clement’s riding 300 kilometres from the nearest border crossing,” said Ms. Vandenbeld, Liberal candidate for Ottawa West-Nepean.
Starting in spring 2009, the Conservatives received approval from Parliament for $66.7 million for the Border Infrastructure Fund and another $83.3 million in November 2009, for a total of $150.0 million.
Public Accounts confirmed that $121,332,454 was actually spent in 2009-10, but Section 6 of the Public Accounts reveals that $40,489,173 of the $121,332,454 was funneled to a “Contribution for the G8 Summit” that in fact was the G8 Legacy Fund in Tony Clement’s riding. The evidence shows that the Border Infrastructure Fund was indeed used for G8 Legacy Fund spending – a violation of Parliament’s spending approval.
In 2010, the Conservatives secured an additional $10 million for the “Border Infrastructure Fund in support of the 2010 G8 Summit” – but again these funds were never spent on anything involving border infrastructure, and was instead added to the G8 Legacy Fund.
“Along with their flagrant deceit and contempt for Parliament and taxpayers, John Baird, Tony Clement and the Conservative cabinet appear to have violated the Criminal Code, the Financial Administrations Act and their own Accountability Act that commits the Government of Canada to ensuring ‘truth in budgeting,’” said Marlene Jennings, Liberal spokesperson for justice issues, who sent the letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“The Harper Conservatives don’t think the rules apply to them,” concluded Mr. Goodale. “They’ve abused their power with contempt for Parliament, wasteful spending and now potential law-breaking that goes right to the heart of the Harper cabinet. It’s time for them to be replaced.”
