Conservatives sign $1.4-billion cargo plane contract

[daleo]

OTTAWA — The air force's long-awaited purchase of the Super-Hercules cargo plane became a reality Wednesday as the Conservative government formally signed a contract with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin.

The purchase of 17 C-130J planes is worth $1.4-billion, with delivery of the first aircraft in the winter of 2010.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Public Works Minister Michael Fortier said at a news conference that a maintenance contract is still being negotiated, for completion by 2009.
...
The Conservative government invoked a national security clause and negotiated exclusively with Lockheed Martin to buy and maintain the planes.
...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080116.wcargoplanes0116/BNStory/National/home
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No-bid contract for 1.4 billion? I wonder if there were any "success fees" involved? Who was the consultant/lobbyest? There's bound to be one.

[JBoy]

1. Yay, on the same day Gates criticizes our troops!

Should have reopened discussions with Airbus, just to stick a fork in their eye.

[CHIMO]

2. Numbers Don't

Add up.

Government to spend $4.9 billion on new military planes
David Pugliese , Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
After 17 months of discussions, U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and the Canadian government have reached an agreement on the purchase of a new fleet of transport aircraft for the Canadian Forces.

Cabinet approved the agreement for the purchase of 17 C-130J tactical transport planes. The total cost of the deal, along with a long-term in-service support package, is estimated to be about $4.9 billion.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Public Works Minister Michael Fortier will announce the deal in Ottawa today.

The Canadian government will spend $3.2 billion to buy 17 of the aircraft and another $1.7 billion for the 20-year in-service support contract for the planes. The Canadian military currently uses the C-130 Hercules aircraft, also built by Lockheed Martin.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=51f78fbd-b6fe-4a09-a8d4-ac8cdaac8b9e

And somebody is spreading it ($) around.

[daleo]

3. From Schreiber's testimony of Dec 6, 2007

Mr. Pat Martin:
...Mr. Schreiber, perhaps the most valuable thing you have shared with us here today, and something that I appreciate very much, is you've done the Canadian public a great service by one comment you made: that it could be, and it is likely, that exactly the same kind of influence peddling, big money, corporate lobbying that you were doing is going on today, as we speak, by guys like Fred Doucet running roughshod over everything that's good and decent about Canadian business and Canadian government. That is a revelation I think Canadians should take note of.



Mr. Karlheinz Schreiber:
Sir, you have only to look at the ministries. Where are the budgets? Transport and defence are the main.... Now, look at the Minto deal, look at the deal in Nova Scotia going to--


Mr. Pat Martin: Submarines.


Mr. Karlheinz Schreiber: Look at the submarines, nine procurement.... And Peter MacKay was moved from foreign affairs to defence. I could think perhaps he went there or was moved there because foreign affairs has no budget.


Then comes the question: who governs Canada? Maybe the Prime Minister doesn't even know. Could be. He is so isolated, perhaps, around the group from Mulroney. What can I do?
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Not that Schreiber is an expert on corruption, or anything like that.