Peter MacKay blames opposition, media for Libya-cost controversy

[Locutus]

OTTAWA — Canada’s embattled defence minister took to the airwaves Sunday to make his case that he did not mislead Canadians about the cost of the military mission to Libya.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said opposition parties and the media have tried to warp his words in recent days over comments he made about the cost of sending Canadian war planes and ships to Libya last year.

MacKay told two political talk shows he was “crystal clear” that when he told CBCRadio in late October that the cost of the mission was less than $50 million.

In that same interview, MacKay told CBC Radio’s The House “there could be more costs that come.”
MacKay said he was asked about the cost of the mission to that point — not about the $106-million estimate of which the Canadian Forces now says MacKay would have been aware and reported to cabinet.


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Peter MacKay blames opposition, media for Libya-cost controversy | News | National Post

 

[mentalfloss]

It's like the F-35 thing. He knew the estimated rising cost, but deliberately lowballed the figure to make it easier for the public to stomach at that time. That's not how a fiscal conservative is supposed to budget. Ask any accountant and they'll tell you that they quote near the higher end of the spectrum so that the actual cost is within expectations.

Now he has to deal with a whole bunch of unnecessary fury.

 

[Machjo]

You'd think a CONSERVATIVE would err on the conservative side. In other words, when he's unsure of the costs, he aims high, even very high if necessary, so as to guarantee he won't go past budget.

But hey, that's my understanding of what a CONSERVATIVE is suposed to be.

 

[petros]

al Qaeda didn't submit all their receipts before Mckay opened his yap.

 

[relic]

Has petey told the truth about ANYTHING ?! Some of you goomers never watch the news,do y'

 

[lone wolf]

He has every right to feel cornered. If he hadn't fibbed so much previously, folks might trust his words....

 

[Machjo]

Has petey told the truth about ANYTHING ?! Some of you goomers never watch the news,do y'

I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, so I'll accept that it might not necessarily be dishonesty but rather incompetence. Not much better, granted, but a small step up until it's proven that he intentionally lied.