Discussion · Oral Questions
James Bezan Conservative
“The government keeps changing how it buys military equipment. It wants to create a new corporation to get around spending rules and give a minister too much control. I want the government to admit this will lower accountability and increase political meddling.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about reality. In May, the Liberal solution was turning the brand new DIA into a stand-alone agency. Six months later, the Liberals changed their minds again and are trying to turn the agency into a Crown corporation. In reality, the Liberals are attempting to circumvent Treasury Board rules and give a new associate minister unprecedented power over a Crown corporation that would have to do everything the associate minister would say, do and spend. Is this a new attempt by the Prime Minister to decrease accountability and increase political interference in defence procurement?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about reality. In May, the Liberal solution was turning the brand new DIA into a stand-alone agency. Six months later, the Liberals changed their minds again and are trying to turn the agency into a Crown corporation. In reality, the Liberals are attempting to circumvent Treasury Board rules and give a new associate minister unprecedented power over a Crown corporation that would have to do everything the associate minister would say, do and spend. Is this a new attempt by the Prime Minister to decrease accountability and increase political interference in defence procurement?