Mackay accused of using military to attack critics

Ducks queries on having personnel dig up dirt on MP

OTTAWA – Defence Minister Peter Mackay practically ran from a military conference Friday morning as he dodged questions about emails that suggest military personnel were enlisted to help turn the tables on the opposition following revelations Mackay used a search-and-rescue helicopter during a fishing trip in 2010.

The emails show that on Sept. 22, one day after a TV report that Mackay had used a Cormorant helicopter to be taken from a private fishing lodge near Gander, N.L., military officials began searching for instances of opposition members using military aircraft.

The officials were particularly interested in a flight Liberal MP Scott Simms took in the same area in January 2011.

“Found it,” Maj. Byron Johnson wrote in a message shortly after noon to five other senior military officers, including an officer serving as the Defence Department’s liaison with Mackay’s office. “Fax is on its way.”

“Thanks Byron,” replied Maj. Jay Nelles, before thanking staff for responding on such short notice and describing the request as “a taste of life in Ottawa!!”

Mackay used the information to hit back at Simms in the House of Commons in the following days and weeks, even though the emails show Mackay’s office ordered the Jan. 17, 2011, flight to educate Simms about the military’s search-and-rescue capabilities.

On Friday morning, Mackay delivered a 20-minute speech to military officials and industry representatives at Ottawa’s Château Laurier before speed walking through the hotel, refusing to respond to reporters following behind.

The country’s top soldier, Gen. Walter Natynczyk, who was also attending the conference, said he was unaware of the specifics of the emails. He would not comment on whether military personnel had been inappropriately used for political purposes.

Liberal defence critic John Mckay blasted the government for pulling department staff, who are supposed to be unbiased, into the imbroglio.

“Using the military – military records, military resources, military officers – to try to acquire that political knowledge for debating purposes in the House of Commons is utterly, completely inappropriate,” he said.

A spokesperson for Mackay later defended the search, saying in an email that the parliamentary debate was about MPS riding on military assets.

The cost of picking Mackay up in Newfoundland has been pegged at $16,000.

Mackay had told the House of Commons the ride was part of a pre-planned military demonstration, but emails made public in December indicated that was a story concocted to protect the minister from embarrassment for having used the Cormorant to get to Gander airport rather than taking a two-hour boat and car ride.