Conservatives ensuring federal cash spent in Quebec, big time
Ministers Prentice and Fortier announced Boeing money being spread to Quebec today: Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) says it has awarded contracts worth more than $420 million to companies in Quebec, linked to the Canadian government's 2007 order for four C-17 Globemaster 3 aircraft.The first two long-distance transport planes are already in service with Canadian Forces, having been used to support the military in Afghanistan.As part of the original order, Boeing agreed to match the price of the four aircraft with dollar-for-dollar investments in Canada through a program co-ordinated by Industry Canada....Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin also announced Monday it is providing Quebec companies with contracts worth a total of $240 million.Federal Public Works Minister Michael Fortier and Industry Minister Jim Prentice made the announcement at a news conference in nearby Laval.
Junior MacKay: "we're going to be getting our share"
The bounty spreads as we get word of a Tuesday announcement of more federal spending, following up on Monday's Quebec spending with respect to those military contracts for new transport aircraft. The Conservatives look to shore up Nova Scotia with some good old fashioned sprinkling of federal funds: Atlantic Canadian aerospace companies will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in defence contracts as the result of a move to replace the military's Hercules transport aircraft, two federal cabinet ministers are expected to announce Tuesday.The announcement of funding to aerospace companies in Nova Scotia will be made by Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Industry Minister Jim Prentice.
And remember this.....
The Conservatives remain the party of the Big Lie and Big Liars.Reports of Quebec getting Boeing spinoffs premature: Toews
Last Updated: Thursday, January 25, 2007
Treasury Board president Vic Toews denied reports that Ottawa may give Quebec a bigger share of a $3.5-billion federal contract for military aircraft — a bigger share that Manitoba worries might come at its own industry's expense.
The federal government is discussing a deal with Boeing Corp. to buy four new C-17 cargo planes.
While the Boeing airplanes would be built in the U.S., the federal deal hinges on Boeing pledging to spend an amount equal to the purchase price on projects in Canada.
About 20 per cent of the benefits could go to Western Canada. But earlier this week, federal Public Works Minister Michel Fortier said in published reports that he would not sign the contracts unless Quebec receives the biggest share.
Toews, the Conservative MP for Provencher in Manitoba, said Thursday that the reports are premature and "are completely without foundation.
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Why is this surprising? If the Libs were in power they'd be doing the same thing, probably the same with the Dips.
ReplyDeleteIn our political system, the easiest province to get seats from is Quebec right now. (That is unless the Bloc get their act together.) Ontario is pretty much already decided, and most of the other provinces don't have enough seats to really change things.
And sadly, the best way to get seats is to give big big contracts to those regions. People with jobs that pay lots of money usually end up being very willing to vote for you, even if it isn't in their self-interest to do so.
mrvnmouse is right - this is a non-partisan issue as any party would do (and in the case of the Liberals, has done)the very same thing many times over.
ReplyDeleteAs political (i.e. vote-buying) considerations are clearly part of these decisions, it will be interesting to see Ontario's reaction (if any) given the massicve decline in manufacturing jobs in this province.
One other point - Quebec does have a fairly robust aerospace industry, so it would make sense that some (a lot?) of those types of contracts should go there.