Conservatives call Chinook’s five year delay a procurement “success”

Late and over budget, Conservative mismanagement of helicopter procurement costs taxpayers millions

While New Democrats welcome the delivery of the first Chinook helicopters, they point to the fact that these helicopters are five years late and millions over budget as the latest example of ongoing Conservative mismanagement of military procurement.

“These guys have set the bar so low, they think five years off schedule and millions over budget is worthy of a parade,” said NDP Military Procurement critic Matthew Kellway (Beaches–East York). “In these circumstances, any government committed to even the most modest management standards would be trying to find out what went wrong and how to improve—something the Conservatives have refused to do.”

Former Auditor General Sheila Fraser reported three years ago that poor planning had significantly delayed this procurement program. She also criticized the Defence Department for its claims that the helicopters were off-the-shelf, despite knowing that significant modifications were planned.

This is not this government’s first helicopter procurement controversy. The Conservatives have also badly mismanaged the purchase of the maritime helicopter fleet, the Sikorsky Cyclones—already more than four years late and grossly over budget, with no delivery in sight.

“Because of Conservative incompetence, our soldiers have had to make do without the equipment they need,” said NDP deputy Defence critic Christine Moore (Abitibi–Témiscamingue). “This simply isn’t good enough. Canada’s military deserves better.”