More Public Works contracts questioned
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 | 6:08 PM ET
The Canadian Press
An aerospace company received two multimillion-dollar contracts from the federal government after one of its executives donated to the Conservatives, The Canadian Press has learned.
But Nicola Papiccio said his donations, which totalled $1,500, had nothing to do with his then-employer getting the contracts, and he says he didn't donate to curry favour with the government.
Public Works awarded Rheinmetall Canada two contracts worth a total of $36 million in 2009, when Christian Paradis was minister at the department. Ten days before the second contract was awarded, Papiccio donated $1,000 to the Conservative riding association in the minister's constituency.
The opposition is already calling for the resignation of Paradis over a controversy involving a big-money Parliament Hill renovation project and a political fundraiser in Montreal.
The Conservatives have denied that there were kickbacks in return for government contracts, insisting their government imposed limits on donations to a maximum of $1,100 a year.
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