Grit funds never did get 'audit'

By Maria McClintock, Parliamentary Bureau

The federal Liberals were forced to admit yesterday they did financial
"reviews," not "audits," to determine if sponsorship money made its way into
party coffers. The Conservatives called the Grits on their audit line when they
produced proof from firms PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte that their
examinations didn't include cash flow to riding associations, and that they had
to rely strictly on information provided by the Liberal Party.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers says that what it is doing here does not constitute an
audit. Deloitte says: 'Our services were engaged to perform a forensic
accounting review, no audits,'" Conservative Leader Stephen Harper told the
Commons.

Harper added that the Deloitte report also stated that, "the Liberals set the
rules for what transactions they actually looked at. That did not include any
money to riding associations which is where all the sponsorship money was
funnelled."

'VERY THOROUGH'

Public Works Minister Scott Brison couldn't deny Harper's assertions.

"A forensic accounting review is a very thorough review of all accounting. That
is exactly what Deloitte did and that is exactly what PricewaterhouseCoopers
did," Brison said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Paul Martin was accused of meeting for lunch with a
key ad exec linked to Adscam -- a charge he's denied. Tory MP Jason Kenney
peppered the PM with accusations he met with Groupe Everest president Claude
Boulay to discuss contracts for Attractions Canada, which got sponsorship cash.
Martin dismissed Kenney's question as nonsense.

Adding to Martin's headaches is talk by two Liberal MPs, David Kilgour and Pat
O'Brien, of crossing the floor to join the Conservatives.

"We've come much more to the far left on social issues, and I'm uncomfortable
with it," said O'Brien, who will announce his decision next week.

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 06:08:04 -0400, Jake wrote
something
.......and in reply I say!:

its "liberal". Lern to reed your one kwotes.


"The federal Liberals were forced to admit yesterday they did financial
"reviews," not "audits," to determine if sponsorship "
.............

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WHY _ARE_ WE HERE?

Nick White --- HEAD:Hertz Music

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

!!
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