Ujjal tells a porkie

[MarkOttawa]

The Liberal defence critic was interviewed on CFRA, Ottawa, this morning (August 9) about the government's invoking a "national security" clause for proposed military equipment purchases. In the course of the interview Mr Dosanjh said (near end of clip):
http://www.cfra.com/chum_audio/Ujjal.Dosanjh.Aug.9.06.mp3

We as Liberal government had put out some of these requests and tried to enter into these contracts to purchase some of the same equipment. Most of the equipment that is now being sought was being sought earlier...

That is simply untrue. These are the equipments for which the government has issued procurement criteria:

Strategic Airlift
Tactical Airlift
Medium- to Heavy-Lift Helicopters
Medium-Sized Logistics Trucks
Joint Support Ship.

Last November then-Minister of National Defence Bill Graham tried to get the Martin government to approve a $12.1 billion plan to acquire transport planes, search-and-rescue aircraft and troop-carrying helicopters. That plan was not accepted. Cabinet would only approve up to $5 billion for 16 CC-130 Hercules replacements (tactical airlift).
http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=d1d91e61-974d-4f66-bf86-fe16e73b126f

To repeat, Mr Dosanjh claimed that "Most of the equipment that is now being sought was being sought earlier..." False. Only one type of equipment was actually being sought. Mr Graham is now interim Liberal leader; perhaps he should have a few words with Mr Dosanjh.

To be fair, last November the Conservative defence critic, Gordon O'Connor (now Minister of National Defence), was critical of the planned Liberal purchase, claiming the fix was in for the Lockheed Martin C-130J--the same plane the Conservative government is almost certain to buy.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[North Star]

Mr. Dosanjh is not the greatest Defence critic we've ever had, and probably slept through the defence portions of cabinet meetings. He has expressed no interest in defence before, and is probably just a placeholder until a new Liberal leader appoints a new one. I have more respect for Pat Martin, who I view as ideologically repugnant but at least researches and genuinely cares about topics concerning defence and veterans affairs.

Look at Mr. Dosanjh's record as BC Premier: he has no credibility when it comes to capital acquisitions. If O'Connor wasn't such a nice guy, he could have thrown all sorts of barbs concerning this topic via the media. Mr. Dosanjh could have been much better employed as Health critic or Social Development (his passions).