Next excuse, please

The Cons' attempt to spin their way out of their politically-based funding of First Nations schools:

At the heart of the issue is a March, 2008, memo from John-Paul Fournier, the department's Toronto-based head of capital planning. Regarding the need for a new elementary school in North Spirit Lake, north of Kenora, Ont., Mr. Fournier writes: "Chief has recently expressed concern about the continued delay of project start. The existing facility is a 30 to 40 year old wood structure. No real issue, just sitting in an opposition riding." Mr. Fournier repeats the comment about an opposition riding in describing the school needs of Wabaseemoong, also north of Kenora.

Yesterday, Mr. Fournier released a statement saying he was simply noting that because schools listed in his memo were in an opposition riding, they could be raised as issues by opposition MPs.

In effect, Fournier's excuse is to say that the line about "just sitting in an opposition riding" merely points out the hypothetical possibility that an opposition MP might raise the issue. There's just one problem, though: in both cases, that prospect was far from a hypothetical at the time Fournier's memo was written.

From Hansard, February 7, 2007:

Mr. Roger Valley (Kenora, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize two members of the Wabaseemoong First Nation First Nation. Chief Eric Fisher and Councillor Waylon Scott are two men who have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in their community.

The Wabaseemoong First Nation, or, as it is commonly referred to, Whitedog, is located just over 100 kilometres north of the city of Kenora. Wabaseemoong is an example of how hard-working community leaders can achieve great things for their communities. However, Wabaseemoong is also an example of the government's inaction on aboriginal issues. This community would have benefited greatly from the initiatives outlined in the Kelowna accord but the government decided not to ratify it.

Chief Fisher and Councillor Scott have traveled to Ottawa this week to bring to the minister's attention the unnecessary delay in the construction of their school. The condition of the current school is such that the community had to order it closed for a period of two weeks as the community could not ensure the safety of the students.

The Conservative government has delayed the start of a new school. The parliamentary secretary to the minister comes in to the riding and does not announce a date for starting the school. The students of Wabaseemoong need a chance at an education. The community of Wabaseemoong needs a new school.

And better yet, from Hansard, February 1, 2008, just a month before the memo was written:

Mr. Roger Valley (Kenora, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, first nations people deserve better from the Conservative government. Conservatives have been cancelling education projects all across Canada. The latest cancellation of the school in North Spirit Lake is appalling.

On August 22, 2006, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs promised in writing to build this much needed school. For two years the community invested time and money into starting construction on December 1, but guess what. It was cancelled eight days before the project started.

Chief Donald Campbell and the community of North Spirit want to know why they have been cheated by the government. They want to know when the minister will stop making their children beg for a new school.

So what seems more likely: that the memo was intended to make reference to "just sitting in an opposition riding" as raising the possibility of hypothetical questions at a time when questions were actually being asked by the opposition MP? Or that the phrase means what it seems to on the surface: that the lone holdup on funding was the party representing the area?