The Inquiry
There is a book or perhaps books in the writing about the sponsorship inquiry headed by Justice Gomery. Yesterday was a day of testimony given by Andre Ouellet, a former minister of the crown and subsequently head of Canada Post, a crown corporation. We learned of missing funds that were being transferred from the Government of Canada, double billing, the appointment of friends to senior position, and the hiring of “friendly” firms on contract and the possible rigging competitions so that particular firms would end up on lists for contract awards. His testimony continued today but the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, more pleasant to view by far, would have attracted an audience that might otherwise have been watching the commission’s proceedings.
Perhaps many viewers would have been wondering what the chairman of the commission was thinking while listening to testimony that had limited plausibility. In fact, as a viewer, I wondered how a man who was so close to on-going operations, who was described as a micro-manager, who had the power to do so much would claim that his “subordinates” had decision making powers and the responsibility to do the right thing, and did so. One has to balance earlier testimony of others against what Mr. Ouellet had to say.
Can anyone justify a firm being given $78,000 in fees for moving $521,000 from Public Works, a government department, to Canada Post, a government corporation? I remember individuals who years ago said that some horses were listed on the government's pay role. I thought that was impossible. I did not want to believe it. Now, I am not sure. How much honesty is there in society? How much corruption exists in governments and in corporations?
I trust that some Canadians have already made up there minds as to what did take place. Justice Gomery has much to review, much think about; Canadians look forward to his final report, due in December.
I realize that many readers might not know too much about the “sponsorship scandal” but to know that the inquiry should run a full 15 months indicates the amount of testimony that will be presented.
An audit report by an outside firm found that Mr. Ouellet had circumvented the corporation’s hiring practices; that he had meddled in contract tendering; that he had run up travel and entertainment expenses of more than $2 million dollars without receipts, over an eight year period. Following the release of that report, Mr. Ouellet resigned. I must believe if he had not resigned, he would have been fired by the prime minister.
Many questions are probably being asked by the Canadian public, such as on what basis and for what reasons was Mr. Ouellet appointed to the original position at Canada Post? Was this a political reward? Later, would other friends also receive “awards” or benefits from him? Who were the beneficiaries of all of the hospitality and what was the nature of the hospitality extended? There are so many questions. The answers to those questions might be difficult to believe.
Perhaps many viewers would have been wondering what the chairman of the commission was thinking while listening to testimony that had limited plausibility. In fact, as a viewer, I wondered how a man who was so close to on-going operations, who was described as a micro-manager, who had the power to do so much would claim that his “subordinates” had decision making powers and the responsibility to do the right thing, and did so. One has to balance earlier testimony of others against what Mr. Ouellet had to say.
Can anyone justify a firm being given $78,000 in fees for moving $521,000 from Public Works, a government department, to Canada Post, a government corporation? I remember individuals who years ago said that some horses were listed on the government's pay role. I thought that was impossible. I did not want to believe it. Now, I am not sure. How much honesty is there in society? How much corruption exists in governments and in corporations?
I trust that some Canadians have already made up there minds as to what did take place. Justice Gomery has much to review, much think about; Canadians look forward to his final report, due in December.
I realize that many readers might not know too much about the “sponsorship scandal” but to know that the inquiry should run a full 15 months indicates the amount of testimony that will be presented.
An audit report by an outside firm found that Mr. Ouellet had circumvented the corporation’s hiring practices; that he had meddled in contract tendering; that he had run up travel and entertainment expenses of more than $2 million dollars without receipts, over an eight year period. Following the release of that report, Mr. Ouellet resigned. I must believe if he had not resigned, he would have been fired by the prime minister.
Many questions are probably being asked by the Canadian public, such as on what basis and for what reasons was Mr. Ouellet appointed to the original position at Canada Post? Was this a political reward? Later, would other friends also receive “awards” or benefits from him? Who were the beneficiaries of all of the hospitality and what was the nature of the hospitality extended? There are so many questions. The answers to those questions might be difficult to believe.
posted by croweagle at
8:17 PM
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