Letter from defeated Liberal MP targets Muskoka projects funding

The RCMP is in the midst of deciding whether to launch an investigation into the government's controversial spending for the G8 summit last year.

The move comes in the wake of a complaint by former Liberal MP Marlene Jennings, who wrote the Mounties a letter dated April 15 that raised questions about a "possible misappropriation of funds."

Opposition parties immediately pounced on the news Tuesday, pointing to it as evidence that their long-standing claims of government misspending at the summit are well-founded. However, the government brushed off the accusations, saying they were merely a political public relations stunt and that the Tories have done nothing wrong.

Jennings represented Notre-Dame-De-Grace-Lachine in Quebec before losing her seat.

The RCMP acknowledged Tuesday that it has received a "referral."
"The matter is currently with A Division," said Const. Suzanne Lefort, referring to the Commercial Crime Section of the RCMP. "Based on the evaluation of the information provided, the RCMP may or may not initiate an investigation, but we cannot talk about the investigation right now."

In her letter, Jennings wrote that Parliament approved the use of funds for the Border Infrastructure Fund, but that "recent revelations" suggested the money approved by Parliament for that fund were instead used to subsidize infrastructure projects in Muskoka.

Jennings told Postmedia News she thinks the RCMP is dealing with her complaint as a "serious matter" and that although they are only at the beginning stages, she is satisfied they are taking her concerns seriously.

A recent auditor general's report slammed the approval of 32 infrastructure projects that were budgeted to receive $50 million in Tory cabinet minister Tony Clement's riding prior to last summer's G8 summit in Huntsville, Ont.

Interim Auditor General John Wiersema suggested the whole process "lacked transparency" and was submitted to Parliament without "clear and accurate information" about what MPs voted to approve.

The audit also found millions of dollars worth of projects - including construction of public washrooms and gazebos - were authorized without approval from department officials, and ended up having little to do with their original purpose, presented to Parliament as funding for "border infrastructure."

As news of Jennings' letter surfaced Tuesday, Opposition MPs went after Clement, peppering the government with questions about the investigation. During question period Tuesday, the NDP repeatedly asked Clement to explain how funds were doled out to the various projects in his riding.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird answered opposition questions about G8 spending. He said the auditor general's report showed the government had no intent to mislead Parliament about how the funds were spent.

Baird called Jennings' complaint a "stunt" by a defeated Liberal candidate who was not focusing on "the issues that really matter to Canadians."