Tories trumpet doorknob repair as stimulus: Liberals
Last Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009 | 10:24 PM ET
CBC News
Liberal MP Wayne Easter holds up a doorknob during a news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Monday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) Opposition parties called out the Harper government for including what they say is routine maintenance to federal buildings in P.E.I. in its economic stimulus plan.
Liberal MP Wayne Easter said a huge "propaganda" sign has been posted outside an RCMP building in Charlottetown advertising the stimulus plan and informing people of the installation of "internal door hardware" inside. The "hardware" in question is doorknobs, Easter said.
"Do you think this is stimulus, putting a doorknob in an RCMP building in this country? [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper calls this stimulus?" he said, holding up a doorknob for emphasis.
Easter said federal officials have said $800,000 has been allocated for repair and restoration of federal buildings and facilities in Prince Edward Island and that each of the buildings features a large sign advertising the action plan.
He said the repairs include moving an iron fence, installing a boiler room door, putting in an air-exchange system and upgrading elevators.
Liberals file complaints over cheques
The Liberals contend the doorknobs are another example of how the Conservative Party is using its economic stimulus plan to promote party interests.
Last week, the Liberals filed 47 complaints with the ethics commissioner about Conservative Party logos or Conservative MP signatures that have appeared on ceremonial cheques at funding announcements.
The party has also accused the government of favouring Conservative ridings when allocating infrastructure spending.
Easter again addressed the issue during question period on Monday afternoon.
"Which cost more, the doorknob or the propaganda sign?" he said.
Liberal MP David McGuinty says they've found more examples of Conservative MPs and ministers taking personal credit or using Conservative party logos in government funding announcements.
"He [Harper] has got to put an end to the partisan ads, $60 million and counting. He has to stop this pathetic and childlike presentation of cheques. He has to stop putting out signs for promotion of his own party and budgetary measures," said McGunity.
Transport Minister John Baird brushed off questions from all three opposition parties over the optics of the infrastructure spending during question period on Monday, calling the attacks "drive-by smears."
"There is nothing wrong with members of Parliament working for good projects for their regions," said Baird, dismissing complaints of favouritism.
"We have nothing to apologize for."
Baird said former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien took a similar stance when he argued that the government should get credit for the work it does. He also produced photographs of what he said were Easter and other Liberal MPs with signed cheques of their own to mark government spending.
Changes to website made after complaints
Baird did not say, however, whether those cheques also had party logos on them, one of the complaints opposition parties have levelled at the current government.
Easter had pointed out that the economic action plan website included numerous photos of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and also included a link to a video of Harper playing the piano and crooning a Beatles tune at a recent National Arts Centre gala.
Many of the photos and the link disappeared over the weekend following media reports.
"I believe clearly that the prime minister knows he was over the line," Easter said. "It's an admission of guilt of abusing taxpayers' money."
With files from The Canadian Press
