|
OTTAWA
–Today’s revelations by Canada’s Auditor
General revealed how the Liberal government allowed millions
of tax dollars to be stolen, says Provencher MP Vic Toews.
Auditor General Sheila Fraser expressed shock and disbelief
at the improper allocation of millions of taxpayer dollars
to advertising companies and Crown corporations through
the Liberal Sponsorship Program.
“Paul
Martin was Finance Minister and Vice-Chair of the Treasury
Board when he approved the allocation of this money. He
was in charge, but he now claims he knew nothing about
it,” said Toews. “Was he misleading Canadians,
or was he just incompetent?”
Ms.
Fraser’s audit, which examined the Federal Sponsorship
Program from 1997-2001 while Mr. Martin was Finance Minister,
revealed that $250 million of taxpayer’s money was
spent but that more than $100 million of that amount was
improperly spent. Fraser said that fund transfers to Crown
corporations occurred through “highly questionable
methods” and that the government “broke every
rule in the book.”
“Paul
Martin said nothing when he signed the cheques that found
their way into the back pockets of the friends of the
Liberal Party. In fact the government he served in publicly
insisted nothing was wrong. Now that the Auditor General
has confirmed what the Official Opposition had been stating
for years the Prime Minister announces yet another meaningless
public inquiry to get the Liberals past the next election.
He’s trying to close the barn door after the horses
are gone. What Canadians are entitled to know is why he
said nothing when he was in a position to stop this unprecedented
financial abuse.”
-
30 -
For
more information, please contact:
Vic Toews, Member of Parliament, Provencher Riding
1-866-333-1933 Steinbach 613-992-3128 Ottawa www.victoews.com
|
