Note: Guite and Copps mentioned. Note: I have heard there was an item on a news program -- but incompletely heard by the listener. It seems as though a Quebec organization received a mysterious donation of over a million dollars that they never asked for right around that time. Listen for more on this -- if it ever comes out. Thanks Jack. NJC
Ottawa — The government is trying to find out what happened to a federal sponsorship grant that was supposed to aid the famed Bluenose II schooner, but apparently never arrived.
"We're tracing funds that may have gone adrift, and we will be getting them back," Public Works Minister Stephen Owen told the Commons on Monday.
At issue is a $2.3-million cheque that was directed to the Bluenose through Lafleur Communications, a Montreal ad agency that played a key role in the now-disgraced sponsorship program.
The trust that oversees the schooner — a major tourist attraction in Nova Scotia — says it received only $359,000.
[. . . .] The Mounties are already investigating 18 other deals linked to the sponsorship program. In addition, Ottawa has launched civil actions in about a dozen cases to recover money that was mishandled.
How much do you want to bet that they are undermanned and underfunded for all these investigations? NJC
[. . . .] Privy Council president Denis Coderre [is] facing questions about his links to advertising executive Claude Boulay of Groupe Everest, yet another Montreal firm.
[. . . .] Everest later won a lucrative contract with the Heritage Department [Sheila Copps was the Minister of Heritage.], where Coderre then served as junior minister for amateur sport.
[. . . .] Government records refer to some $3.3-million supposedly earmarked for the schooner, with the $2.3-million that went through Lafleur making up the largest chunk.
[. . . .] Moore has admitted talking about the sponsorship program with Chuck Guite, a former public servant whose role in the scandal was highlighted by the auditor general.
