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OTTAWA - (Web posted April 8, 2002 @ 5 p.m.) -
In his new role as Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, Grant Hill wasted
little time criticizing the Liberals on Monday.
Hill accused the Grits of ignoring the needs
of the Canadian military in light of their decision last month to spend
$100-million on two new jets for the Prime Minister and his ministers.
 The
planes were purchased from Quebec-based Bombardier Inc.
"Why is this government putting the
comfort of the PM and his ministers ahead of soldiers in Afghanistan?"
asked Hill, who was appointed to his new post by Canadian Alliance leader
Stephen Harper last week.
Government ministers angrily rejected the
claim.
"That's nonsense," said Defence
Minister Art Eggleton.
The new Challenger 604s will replace two
other planes that are 19 years old.
The government announced they intended to
buy the two Challenger 604s, which will replace two 19-year-old planes, on the
last day of the government's fiscal year and before the House of Commons
recessed for its Easter break.
According to a report in the National
Post, no public tenders were called and Public Works officials did not
explore whether suitable used jets were available.
Opposition MPs asked why the money wasn't
re-directed to support the needs of the military, or to replace the armed forces
fleet of aging Sea King Helicopters. In
the House of Commons, Eggleton said that all of the spending programs with
respect to the military are continuing and that they are not affected by the
purchase of the new planes. As
well, he said the tendering process to purchase new military helicopters is
continuing and that the government expects to make an announcement on that
matter by year's end.
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