“The government gave Maritime Launch Services 20 million dollars by backdating a lease by a full year for no work. Why did they do this?”

“Mr. Speaker, in March, the Liberals entered into a lease with Maritime Launch Services for a so-called spaceport. The lease was backdated one full year to April 1, 2025, handing Maritime Launch Services 20 million tax dollars for no work and no value to taxpayers. Why?”

“The government gave 20 million taxpayer dollars to a nearly broke company called Maritime Launch Services. The head of that company then sold his shares and made 1.8 million dollars. I want the minister to explain why they allowed this.”

“Mr. Speaker, after handing 20 million tax dollars to the nearly bankrupt Maritime Launch Services for no work, the chair of the board sold his previously worthless shares, pocketing $1.8 million. What we have is one big corrupt scheme in which Liberal insiders are getting rich while taxpayers are getting fleeced. How can the minister possibly justify this?”

“The defence minister signed a lease that gave 20 million dollars of public money to a nearly broke company. Company insiders then cashed out millions of dollars. The minister and the spaceport CEO insulted people who asked questions about this deal. I want the minister to explain why asking about this money makes Canadians stupid.”

“Mr. Speaker, today the CEO of the spaceport described questions about this $200-million giveaway as a “clueless meme”. He is in good company. The Minister of Defence has similarly responded to questions about the egregious lease terms as being “stupid”. Let us review. The minister signed a lease gifting $20 million of taxpayers’ money in arrears to a near-bankrupt company. Insiders immediately cashed out millions of dollars. Canadians are rightly asking questions. Can the minister explain how this makes taxpayers clueless or stupid?”

“The government gave a $20-million lease to a struggling space company, and Liberal insiders got rich by selling their shares right after. I want the minister to explain who will be held responsible for this.”

“Mr. Speaker, before the member goes too far defending this boondoggle, let me refer him to the publicly disclosed documents. A year ago, the spaceport’s auditor indicated it was near bankruptcy. Nothing indicated the potential windfall of a $20-million lease with the government. Overpaying is one thing. Gifting $20 million to one’s friends is an egregious abuse of taxpayer trust: Liberal insiders selling their shares for millions of dollars after the minister’s giveaway. The securities commission will have to investigate. Will the minister tell us who he thinks is going to be left standing when the music stops?”