Wow that's an obscure reference. Anyone outside the Golden Horsehoe would never have gotten that.:lol:
Last edited:
Military warned of fallout from MacKay chopper ride
- Thread starter mentalfloss
- Start date
Wow that's an obscure reference. Anyone outside the Golden Horsehoe would never have gotten that.:lol:
Harper changes defence over MacKay’s use of helicopter
OTTAWA—With calls mounting for Peter MacKay’s resignation, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has abandoned a key element of the government’s explanation for the defence minister’s use of a military helicopter to fly out of a vacation fishing camp.
Under questioning about why MacKay unexpectedly ordered the estimated $16,000 flight from a remote Newfoundland fishing lodge, MacKay has said it was partly to observe operations aboard the Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter that was sent to retrieve him.
But that defence appears to have been dropped by the Conservatives after the Toronto Star revealed emails suggesting that picking up MacKay from his vacation spot would be recorded by the military “under the guise” of a search-and rescue demonstration. “I think the minister has been very clear and we’ve been very clear,” Harper told reporters in Burlington Friday. “The minister was called back from vacation and used government aircraft only for government business and that is appropriate.”
There was no mention of the previous explanation that MacKay had taken the flight, in part, to comply with the air force wish that he observe a search-and-rescue operation.
MacKay has also said he ordered the ride out of the Newfoundland fishing lodge in July 2010 to get to a government announcement in London, Ont. Otherwise, he would have needed to take a 90-minute boat ride and a 30-minute drive to get to the airport in Gander, Nfld.
The emails unearthed by the Star showed that a senior air force officer warned against using the military’s search-and-rescue capability to pick up MacKay from a vacation spot because of the backlash that might occur if the public learned about it. And the records show no indication of a scheduled training exercise or a standing offer from the military to provide a helicopter search-and-rescue demonstration for the minister.
But the emails indicate the military did comply with MacKay’s request even though there wasn’t enough space for the helicopter to land at the fishing camp, resulting in the minister being lifted out by hoist.
Opposition MPs said the government’s shifting defence of MacKay’s action is part of an ongoing cover-up by the Conservatives and demanded the minister’s resignation. “With Mr. MacKay, the story doesn’t fit,” NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice told reporters. “He’s in hot water right now and he has no credibility. He took us for fools but now the facts are straight and he should not be a minister anymore.”
“I think the very fact that the government’s lines are changing should tell the public what’s really going on,” Liberal MP Wayne Easter said. “They got caught and now they’re trying to find the spin to get them out of the difficulty that they’re in. The first mistake was the minister using the search and rescue helicopter as his personal taxi. The second mistake—and I think an even worse one—was the fact that they’re now trying . . . to cover up what indeed was the truth in the beginning.”
“There’s enough evidence that the minister is very much caught in his own web of deception,” Easter told reporters. “I think the minister, if he was doing the honourable thing, he would step down.”
Harper was in Burlington Friday to visit a renewable chemicals company.
Canada News: Harper changes defence over MacKay
OTTAWA—With calls mounting for Peter MacKay’s resignation, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has abandoned a key element of the government’s explanation for the defence minister’s use of a military helicopter to fly out of a vacation fishing camp.
Under questioning about why MacKay unexpectedly ordered the estimated $16,000 flight from a remote Newfoundland fishing lodge, MacKay has said it was partly to observe operations aboard the Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter that was sent to retrieve him.
But that defence appears to have been dropped by the Conservatives after the Toronto Star revealed emails suggesting that picking up MacKay from his vacation spot would be recorded by the military “under the guise” of a search-and rescue demonstration. “I think the minister has been very clear and we’ve been very clear,” Harper told reporters in Burlington Friday. “The minister was called back from vacation and used government aircraft only for government business and that is appropriate.”
There was no mention of the previous explanation that MacKay had taken the flight, in part, to comply with the air force wish that he observe a search-and-rescue operation.
MacKay has also said he ordered the ride out of the Newfoundland fishing lodge in July 2010 to get to a government announcement in London, Ont. Otherwise, he would have needed to take a 90-minute boat ride and a 30-minute drive to get to the airport in Gander, Nfld.
The emails unearthed by the Star showed that a senior air force officer warned against using the military’s search-and-rescue capability to pick up MacKay from a vacation spot because of the backlash that might occur if the public learned about it. And the records show no indication of a scheduled training exercise or a standing offer from the military to provide a helicopter search-and-rescue demonstration for the minister.
But the emails indicate the military did comply with MacKay’s request even though there wasn’t enough space for the helicopter to land at the fishing camp, resulting in the minister being lifted out by hoist.
Opposition MPs said the government’s shifting defence of MacKay’s action is part of an ongoing cover-up by the Conservatives and demanded the minister’s resignation. “With Mr. MacKay, the story doesn’t fit,” NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice told reporters. “He’s in hot water right now and he has no credibility. He took us for fools but now the facts are straight and he should not be a minister anymore.”
“I think the very fact that the government’s lines are changing should tell the public what’s really going on,” Liberal MP Wayne Easter said. “They got caught and now they’re trying to find the spin to get them out of the difficulty that they’re in. The first mistake was the minister using the search and rescue helicopter as his personal taxi. The second mistake—and I think an even worse one—was the fact that they’re now trying . . . to cover up what indeed was the truth in the beginning.”
“There’s enough evidence that the minister is very much caught in his own web of deception,” Easter told reporters. “I think the minister, if he was doing the honourable thing, he would step down.”
Harper was in Burlington Friday to visit a renewable chemicals company.
Canada News: Harper changes defence over MacKay
Mckay can find all kinds of youtube video if he has never seen a helicopter in action before.
It looks just like this and it never cost me $16,000
Medevac off cruise ship- Combat Support Unit in the Canadian Forces - YouTube
It looks just like this and it never cost me $16,000
Medevac off cruise ship- Combat Support Unit in the Canadian Forces - YouTube
Soooo,how come the boys are changing their story ? Now daddy says little petey was suddenly called away on govt business.sooo three days notice is suddenly to these goomers ?
Doesn't the principle of using a chopper for 30 mins, for personal reasons and costing 16k in the process just bug you in the slightest?
Honestly, dude.. You can't seriously tell me that doesn't bug you just a bit..
Couple of things here, every trip home by MP's is paid for by the member doing
something at home in the riding or for that matter, a trip to uncharted territory.
We shouldn't get our shirt in a knot its been happening for over a hundred years.
In this case I don't see much wrong with it. If the Minister was to go through the
long process of returning to work early it would cost even more money than
taking the ride as a demo.
As for an opposition, I think you are selling the present bunch a little short here.
They are new at the job, yes. They are in the middle of a leadership race and that
takes a toll on any party. I believe once the NDP gets its legs under it, they will
provide formidable opposition like they always do.
It is not how they are doing at the beginning its how they are doing near the end
of the mandate and that remains to be seen.
something at home in the riding or for that matter, a trip to uncharted territory.
We shouldn't get our shirt in a knot its been happening for over a hundred years.
In this case I don't see much wrong with it. If the Minister was to go through the
long process of returning to work early it would cost even more money than
taking the ride as a demo.
As for an opposition, I think you are selling the present bunch a little short here.
They are new at the job, yes. They are in the middle of a leadership race and that
takes a toll on any party. I believe once the NDP gets its legs under it, they will
provide formidable opposition like they always do.
It is not how they are doing at the beginning its how they are doing near the end
of the mandate and that remains to be seen.
It's not the $16K that pisses me off. It's lieing about it. If they were doing something legit there would be no reason to lie would there?
If he was having a party and giving kiddies rides it would bug me.
This doesn't so much.
The Clement thing that bugs me. This is just filler.
ACAD at Borden specializes in kiddie rides in CH 146's.
Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Neither does this story.
Last edited:
No, I was thinking like a birthday party.
Bear I'm sure you did your fair share of family days. There's nothing wrong with public relations.
Nothing at all I agree but that is planned, budgeted and approved of and there is zero reason to bull**** about it.
Why do they need to spin yarns only to have to spin opinions and image in the end?
Somebody is lying?
I knew what you meant. I was just pointing out that at Borden's ACAD, they do helo hops all day long, for kids. I can only imagine the completely acceptable tab for that.
The Defense Ministers use of a SAR helo, is completely within the realm of acceptable. Not to mention MacKay was hoisted onboard. You've been hoisted, did you think it was a pleasure? I can think of a dozen other ways to get around, that are far more dignified and comfortable thanks.
To quote: "the trip would be under the guise of search and rescue training"
Remind me what guise means. I most be off on my definition?
The Army does exercises under the guise of being attacked by a foreign Army, all the time.
Your definition is fine, it's the context you want to place it in that's off.