Wait for it, Tony Clement says.
In one of the most anticipated events on the Hill, the Treasury Board President will testify before a Commons committee Wednesday afternoon. This, after weeks and weeks of questions in the House – led by the tenacious NDP MP Charlie Angus – about millions of dollars in infrastructure projects that went into his Muskoka riding ahead of the 2010 G8 summit.
“Looking forward to my appearance at the Commons Public Accounts committee this afternoon!” Mr. Clement declared on Twitter Wednesday morning.
Asked by The Globe about how he will face his questioners, Mr. Clement only added to the suspense: “I’m afraid you’ll have to await my committee appearance.”
He failed to mention, too, that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will be there right beside him at the committee. Mr. Baird, who was infrastructure minister when the projects were approved, has been handling all of the questions on the issue to date.
Mr. Clement has been under intense fire over the use of the $50-million G8 legacy fund for 32 projects in his Parry Sound–Muskoka riding, some of which had absolutely nothing to do with the Summit.
The Auditor-General investigated and said that the Harper government did break the rules around the fund – but that there was no paper trail to follow. The auditor also said public servants were not involved in the process of selecting the projects.
Mr. Clement has avoided speaking about the issue. Instead, questions have been handled by Mr. Baird or other Tory stand-ins in the House.
Again in the Commons Tuesday, the Official Opposition revealed more information from emails that have been released to him about the summit spending. Mr. Angus accused Mr. Clement of making “some disturbing comments about his intention to personally intervene in the spending process.”
And he quoted from an email: “I'm going through Treasury Board to flow funds,” Mr. Clement wrote to the Mayor. “I should have the money for you within three weeks. I know your credit card is maxxed.”
Mr. Angus argued that “this is not how it is supposed to be done.”
He asked: “Where is the paper trail? Where were the bureaucrats? If this was really arms length why would he be sending BlackBerry messages promising to get cash in person?”
Instead, Mr. Baird answered the question, quoting statistics about job creation and 23,000 infrastructure projects that the government supported during the economic downturn.
It was not the answer Mr. Angus wanted. Clearly frustrated, he retorted: “I have to say after 145 days of practice, Big Bad John has done a pretty good imitation of the Muskoka minister.”
Mr. Baird noted that there would be ample opportunity for Mr. Angus to question the minister at the committee – but not before he registered his dismay at being called a proper name, against House rules.
“Mr. Speaker, such name calling is really beneath the member opposite. It has also hurt my feelings,” Mr. Baird said.
“I know the member for Timmins–James Bay will be excited that tomorrow at 3:30 he will finally be able to ask the President of the Treasury Board a lot of questions,” Mr. Baird told Mr. Angus. “I look forward as well to being there to support the government in any way I can. At 3:30 tomorrow we will see him there.”
In one of the most anticipated events on the Hill, the Treasury Board President will testify before a Commons committee Wednesday afternoon. This, after weeks and weeks of questions in the House – led by the tenacious NDP MP Charlie Angus – about millions of dollars in infrastructure projects that went into his Muskoka riding ahead of the 2010 G8 summit.
“Looking forward to my appearance at the Commons Public Accounts committee this afternoon!” Mr. Clement declared on Twitter Wednesday morning.
Asked by The Globe about how he will face his questioners, Mr. Clement only added to the suspense: “I’m afraid you’ll have to await my committee appearance.”
He failed to mention, too, that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will be there right beside him at the committee. Mr. Baird, who was infrastructure minister when the projects were approved, has been handling all of the questions on the issue to date.
Mr. Clement has been under intense fire over the use of the $50-million G8 legacy fund for 32 projects in his Parry Sound–Muskoka riding, some of which had absolutely nothing to do with the Summit.
The Auditor-General investigated and said that the Harper government did break the rules around the fund – but that there was no paper trail to follow. The auditor also said public servants were not involved in the process of selecting the projects.
Mr. Clement has avoided speaking about the issue. Instead, questions have been handled by Mr. Baird or other Tory stand-ins in the House.
Again in the Commons Tuesday, the Official Opposition revealed more information from emails that have been released to him about the summit spending. Mr. Angus accused Mr. Clement of making “some disturbing comments about his intention to personally intervene in the spending process.”
And he quoted from an email: “I'm going through Treasury Board to flow funds,” Mr. Clement wrote to the Mayor. “I should have the money for you within three weeks. I know your credit card is maxxed.”
Mr. Angus argued that “this is not how it is supposed to be done.”
He asked: “Where is the paper trail? Where were the bureaucrats? If this was really arms length why would he be sending BlackBerry messages promising to get cash in person?”
Instead, Mr. Baird answered the question, quoting statistics about job creation and 23,000 infrastructure projects that the government supported during the economic downturn.
It was not the answer Mr. Angus wanted. Clearly frustrated, he retorted: “I have to say after 145 days of practice, Big Bad John has done a pretty good imitation of the Muskoka minister.”
Mr. Baird noted that there would be ample opportunity for Mr. Angus to question the minister at the committee – but not before he registered his dismay at being called a proper name, against House rules.
“Mr. Speaker, such name calling is really beneath the member opposite. It has also hurt my feelings,” Mr. Baird said.
“I know the member for Timmins–James Bay will be excited that tomorrow at 3:30 he will finally be able to ask the President of the Treasury Board a lot of questions,” Mr. Baird told Mr. Angus. “I look forward as well to being there to support the government in any way I can. At 3:30 tomorrow we will see him there.”