Was MacKay's use of a rescue helicopter appropriate?

Earlier this year, Defence Minister Peter MacKay defended his use of a military search and rescue helicopter, saying it was for work, rather than for personal use while vacationing in central Newfoundland.

During question period in the House of Commons in September, Defence Minister Peter MacKay defended his use of a military helicopter. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)However, documents obtained by the Toronto Star under federal access to information laws reveal that MacKay's office requested the airlift in July 2010 from a remote fishing area in Newfoundland to a jet waiting in Gander.

MacKay's office requested the airlift because the minister unexpectedly had to be in London, Ont., for an announcement. The helicopter trip took about 20 minutes. MacKay's alternative to the helicopter airlift was a 90-minute boat ride followed by a 30-minute drive.

"This mission will be under the guise ... of [search and rescue training]," one email says. "SAR takes priority and the mission will be conducted on a non-interference basis."

The emails also document concerns over the proposed landing area, which was too small for a Cormorant helicopter. Officials decided MacKay would have to be hoisted out of the area because the helicopter couldn't land.

In another email, Col. Bruce Ploughman, director of Canada Combined Aerospace Operations Centre at 1 Canadian Air Division headquarters in Winnipeg, predicted that dispatching the Cormorant to pick the minister might spark a public backlash:

"So, when the guy who's fishing at the fishing hole next to the minister sees the big yellow helicopter arrive and decides to use his cell phone to video the minister getting on board and post it on YouTube, who will be answering the mail on that one :)"

Was MacKay's use of a rescue helicopter appropriate? Let us know what you think.



(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)