OTTAWA (CP) - The watchdog who blew the door off the federal sponsorship scandal is set to strike again with a report Tuesday that probes anti-terrorism expenditures worth 30 times more than Adscam.
But the latest report by Auditor General Sheila Fraser - on the government's $7.7 billion plan to fight terror after Sept. 11, 2001 - is not expected to match the tone of her recent expose on the $250 million sponsorship scam. The Liberal government is still struggling with the fallout from last month's devastating report but says it has already taken steps to address inefficiencies in the counter-terrorism programs to be examined Tuesday.
[. . . .] McLellan appeared to be doing some early damage control last week by announcing a project to create a government-wide communication system to help federal departments exchange intelligence.
Fraser's report is expected to critique the way federal agencies share terrorist-related intelligence and pass those details on to police.
The chapter assessing the government's post-Sept. 11 plan is just one among seven in the latest auditor's report.
[. . . .] But anti-terrorism measures are expected to receive the lion's share of the attention Tuesday.
The five-year plan has a $7.7 billion budget, money that's being spent largely on intelligence-gathering, national defence and efforts to track money transfers to terrorist groups.
McLellan conceded Monday that pumping funds into the fight against terror won't do the job if government officials aren't co-operating with each other.
[. . . .] "We'll have to wait and see what happens but when you see a cabinet minister running out to give a speech, that's like an arsonist trying to put out a fire."
On Monday, McLellan pointed out other steps the government has taken to improve its counter-terror performance, including the $605 million in new money for security over five years announced in the budget last week.
The latest cash is earmarked for shoring up weaknesses at marine ports, better analysis of potential threats and investments in technology.
The government will also consult Canadians as it drafts a national security policy in the coming months, McLellan promised.
But the government will not have a special election security plan, she said.
I suppose Minister McLellan will have to consult with the "stakeholders" -- and that means you know which groups. The Liberals need those votes to make PM the next PM and to keep our Minister McLellan in office. Is our government absolutely dead at the switch? Can they not see the dangers? NJC
