This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
The Canadian Press reports that the “32 projects were chosen by Industry Minister Tony Clement, the mayor of Huntsville, and the general manager of Deerhurst Resort” with more of an eye to helping the riding rather than supporting the requirements of the summit or abiding by stipulated government conditions.
Ottawa (11 April 2011) - The G8 and G20 summits have been under scrutiny since they began in 2010 for the unprecedented police crack down, the hundreds of human rights violations, unlawful arrests and detentions, not to mention the massive price tag.
Now the Canadian Press (CP), among other news agencies, is reporting that a draft Auditor General’s report examining the $1 billion meetings contains questions about whether or not Parliament was mislead when it approved a "$83 million Border Infrastructure aimed at reducing congestion at border crossings. But the government did not reveal that it intended to devote $50 million of that money to a G8 legacy fund, even though Huntsville is nowhere near the Canada-U.S. border."
The CP has reported that the Auditor General’s report, which was not released due to the defeat of the Conservative government, has found various discrepancies in money allocated for projects but used for others as well as the questions into the process to determine projects altogether.
At the top of the list are questions regarding who decided which projects to fund. CP reports that the “32 projects were chosen by Industry Minister Tony Clement, the mayor of Huntsville, and the general manager of Deerhurst Resort” with more of an eye to helping the riding rather than supporting the requirements of the summit or abiding by stipulated government conditions.
Without the release of the official report, the public is relying on media stories to gather information.
According to the CP, some questionable projects funded were:
•$274,000 on public toilets 20 km from the summit site;
•$100,000 on a gazebo an hour’s drive away;
•$1.1 million for sidewalk and tree upgrades 100 km away;
•$194,000 for a park 100 km away; and
•$745,000 on downtown improvements for three towns nearly 70 km away.
Not only does it appear that money was spent on hand-picked projects to benefit Clement’s supporters in his riding, targeted projects were simply ignored and the money spent elsewhere.
According to CP, Fraser’s report suggests that by moving the money around indiscriminately a lack of transparency was created, in addition to a lack of accountability for the millions spent.
Fraser’s team was, on many occasions, unable to get satisfactory answers from senior officials regarding the projects or received clear answers that indicated that officials knew that the money would not be going to approved projects.
Opposition parties are calling for the release of the full report prior to the federal leader’s election debates which are scheduled for April 12 and 13. The Auditor General has said her office cannot release the document until Parliament returns and urges the public to be patient.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) released a report Breach of the Peace in February 2011, based on hearings with members of the public. The report includes several recommendations, the biggest calling for a full public inquiry.
Opposition parties, who endorsed NUPGE’s call for an inquiry into the G20, were again demanding one today, this time for G8 spending.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More information:
Breach of the Peace: A CITIZENS INQUIRY INTO POLICING AND GOVERNANCE AT THE TORONTO G20 SUMMIT
Toronto Star: Tories come under attack over AG’s ‘shocking’ G8 spending report