News
MacKay scorned by New Democrats for Challenger use
Sept. 30, 2011, Ottawa - The New Democrats are calling on the Harper government to clip Peter MacKay's wings.
September 30, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
They're continuing their attack on the defence minister's use of Challenger jets.
Yesterday New Democrat Jack Harris said MacKay has used the jet to attend government announcements rather than flying commercial like other cabinet ministers.
In the House of Commons, Prime Minister Harper said MacKay has used the jet 70 per cent less than his Liberal predecessors.
Harper said use of the Challenger was justified because half the time MacKay attended ceremonies marking the return of fallen soldiers from Afghanistan.
Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson told a Commons committee yesterday that MacKay may have broken some rules during a summer vacation last year.
He was picked up by a Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter during a vacation at a Newfoundland fishing lodge.
