Discussion · Oral Questions
Greg McLean Conservative
“The defence minister signed a $200-million deal with a struggling company to use a spaceport that only costs $14,000 a year to lease. A Liberal insider made millions from this deal. I want the minister to explain why taxpayers are paying for this.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Defence signed a $200‑million contract for access to a spaceport that the company itself leases for just $14,000 a year. That is $20 million a year for a decade. Worse, the contract is backdated by a full year when no lease was being negotiated and while the company’s own auditor warned it may be bankrupt. After the deal was signed, the company’s stock surged and a well-connected Liberal insider cashed out for millions. Will the minister explain how this is not another multi-million-dollar boondoggle rewarding friends while taxpayers carry all the risk?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Defence signed a $200‑million contract for access to a spaceport that the company itself leases for just $14,000 a year. That is $20 million a year for a decade. Worse, the contract is backdated by a full year when no lease was being negotiated and while the company’s own auditor warned it may be bankrupt. After the deal was signed, the company’s stock surged and a well-connected Liberal insider cashed out for millions. Will the minister explain how this is not another multi-million-dollar boondoggle rewarding friends while taxpayers carry all the risk?