Angry in the Great White North

Anne McLellan and Reg Alcock, former Liberal Party cabinet ministers, appearing before the Public Accounts Committee investigating the RCMP Pension Scandal:

Two former Liberal cabinet ministers say they followed all the rules when, in 2004, an RCMP whistleblower complained about the handling of the RCMP pension fund.

Reg Alcock and Anne McLellan appeared Monday at the Commons public accounts committee, which is investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the handling of RCMP pension and insurance funds.

Scott Brison to the House of Commons on the question of Abotech's contracts (including the RCMP contracts) when he was Minister of Public Works:

Mr. Speaker, first of all, we decided to cancel these contracts as part of an overall review as we strengthen governance and improve competition and value for tax dollars. It is important to note that there was no issue with the services being provided, and in fact, that value was received for tax dollars.

Former Liberal MP David Smith (caucus colleague of McLellan, Alcock, and Brison) quoted in the Low Down on what Abotech did for hundreds of thousands in billing to the Canadian taxpayer:

"You're a specialist in communication, and you're looking for a specialist in communication. We do an RFP (request for proposal) and we place you. We accept you. We pick up five per cent commission on what you do as work. It's not very hard. How much work is there to do in that? What management is there to do in that? Once a month we send a bill. How much time does it take to send a bill? My wife does that…and we didn't solicit anything in new business after that," [David Smith] said.

Evan Dyer of CBC Radio One:

It's reminiscent of some of the work done by companies like Lafleur Communications.

The value provided by Jean Lafleur and Lafleur Communications to the Canadian taxpayer thanks to the Sponsorship Program:

Jean Lafleur -- known as a major donor to the federal Liberals as well as a personal friend of ex-Canada Post boss Andre Ouellet -- was at the helm of the ad agency Lafleur Communications Marketing during the six-year period in which it was paid $31.9 million in sponsorship funds.

In the period between 1994 and 2000, Lafleur Marketing also earned some $35 million for promotional projects commissioned by various Crown coporations including Via Rail, Ports Canada and Canada Post.

At the same time, Lafleur reportedly pocketed $12 million in salaries and bonuses paid to himself and his family.

In his appearance before the Gomery commission, Lafleur said his faulty memory prevented him from answering many questions.

Lafleur and his agency, Lafleur Communications, are among the 11 companies and eight individuals named in a federal government lawsuit aimed at recovering misspent sponsorship funds.

Another Adscam in the offing? As we all know, summer is rerun season.