Conservative Single-Bid Contracts to be Audited

[Saturn]

Ms. Fraser on the case

The federal government has slipped into the bad habit of making big-ticket defence purchases through an arcane process that effectively considers only one bid. Billions of federal dollars have been spent over the past year on equipment, some of it purchased with virtually no competition through the advance contract award notice (ACAN) approach.

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Ottawa's shopping list is lengthy. It is spending $3.4-billion on giant cargo planes, $4.9-billion on smaller transport planes, $4.7-billion on helicopters, $2.9-billion on ships and $1.2-billion on trucks. Although Ms. Fraser did not specify which contracts she will scrutinize, she singled out the ACAN process used to buy the giant C-17 cargo planes and the Chinook helicopters from Boeing Co.

Her scrutiny could be enlightening. Using ACAN, the government said last year that it believed that only Boeing could meet the needs of the Canadian Forces.

[Topaz]

I do believe that the govt make sure that Boeing would get the bid because they change the type of plane and Boeing is the only maker that makes that type of plane. When all this come out Canadians will be surprised how much this govt is paying out on the military. When this war is long over we'll still be paying off the debt on this.

[Saturn]

Well, it's $17.1 Billion right there, most of it in single-bid contracts. Because the Canadian military can use only one type of plane and only one type of helicopter made by only one company. Because these things aren't made to customer specification. It's too bad that by the time Fraser audits those deals, the election will have passed and she'll be out of a job (if the Cons win that election of course).

[jdobbin]

It is one issue that could bite the Tories on the ass. There's a reason why you ensure a fair bidding process. It ensures you pay the best price. In this case, it looks like Canada might be taken to the cleaners.

[geoffrey]

It's too bad that by the time Fraser audits those deals, the election will have passed and she'll be out of a job (if the Cons win that election of course).

Is that the latest Liberal talking point, Harper to axe Fraser? Won't happen, she's as blue as can be and has been the best advocate for taxpayers we've ever had in Canada.

Any party that tried to axe her would be done.

[Wilber]

I don't think it will amount to much. They might have been able to grind out a little better deal but the fact is, they bought the right aircraft. The C-17 and C-130 are really the only game in town so how could they have a bidding process? The C-17 has no real competition and the Air Force has well over 30 years of experience operating the C-130. When it comes to helicopters, the Liberals should probably keep their mouths shut. 14 years after Chretien canceled the EH101's, the Navy is still waiting.

[Saturn]

When it comes to helicopters, the Liberals should probably keep their mouths shut. 14 years after Chretien canceled the EH101's, the Navy is still waiting.

Seeing that every Canadian is spending $700 on military equipment, I want to know that my money is well spent. Handing out contracts without a bidding process suggests that we are not getting the best price possible.

[Wilber]

When it comes to helicopters, the Liberals should probably keep their mouths shut. 14 years after Chretien canceled the EH101's, the Navy is still waiting.

Seeing that every Canadian is spending $700 on military equipment, I want to know that my money is well spent. Handing out contracts without a bidding process suggests that we are not getting the best price possible.

The half billion in penalties it took to get out of the EH101 contract was money well spent? 14 years later the Navy still doesn't have it's Sea King replacement and when it finally does get one it will be less capable than the EH101.

[Saturn]

The half billion in penalties it took to get out of the EH101 contract was money well spent? 14 years later the Navy still doesn't have it's Sea King replacement and when it finally does get one it will be less capable than the EH101.

No, it was money terribly spent. I don't want to see this turn into a political issue like the EH101 did and end up with an expensive cancellation. By not allowing for a proper bidding process, Harper risks turning it into a political issue. Not that he doesn't want to turn everything into a political issue to score some points.

[Wilber]

It is people like you who are turning it into a political issue. Harper is just getting the equipment the military has needed for years. There can be no competitive bidding process if only one manufacturer is building what you need.

[Argus]

When it comes to helicopters, the Liberals should probably keep their mouths shut. 14 years after Chretien canceled the EH101's, the Navy is still waiting.

Seeing that every Canadian is spending $700 on military equipment, I want to know that my money is well spent. Handing out contracts without a bidding process suggests that we are not getting the best price possible.

The problem is this equipment is needed NOW, but the military procurement process is a twisted maze of arcane procedures and processes that literally takes YEARS before an order can even be placed. If they went through the usual process, the order for new helicopters would be unlikely to go out before 2010, possibly not until 2012.

[Catchme]

The problem is this equipment is needed NOW, but the military procurement process is a twisted maze of arcane procedures and processes that literally takes YEARS before an order can even be placed. If they went through the usual process, the order for new helicopters would be unlikely to go out before 2010, possibly not until 2012.

Paul Martin and Bill Graham, seemed to get the equipment needed, though a bidding process, and in a timely manner, that the Can military is using NOW in Afghanistan.

So, why can't O'Connor and Harper?

[Wilber]

You can't have a bidding process if there is only one bidder that has what you need. You just have to make the best deal you can. I don't know how often that needs to be said. Any equipment that has been bought since we went to Afghanistan have been panic purchases to make up for glaring deficiencies.

Canada has a bad habit of buying equipment then keeping it until it rusts out before replacement. Instead of having a plan and replacing one major system every ten years or so, we wait until it all rusts out at once. Then we have to panic and replace everything at once. Then we dick around for years fighting over how much of it will be built in Canada and in which province. The fact that our nation's military needed it yesterday but will have to make do with junk until all the regional political interests are settled is a minor consideration. If that is the way we are going to operate, it pays to buy the best because there is no telling when it will ever be replaced.

Finally a government that has put the military's needs first. About time seeing as they are the ones getting shot at.

[geoffrey]

Any equipment that has been bought since we went to Afghanistan have been panic purchases to make up for glaring deficiencies.

When the Liberals sent them there with forest camoflaugue?