The funding request was not made in a transparent manner
2.11 - In November 2009, Supplementary Estimates (B) 2009-10 were tabled in the House of Commons. They included an item of $83 million for the "Border Infrastructure Fund relating to investments in infrastructure to reduce border congestion" (Exhibit 2.1). The Treasury Board Secretariat provided us with documentation showing that the intention was to use $50 million of this $83 million for G8 Summit projects. We noted, however, that this was not disclosed in the funding request made to Parliament through the Supplementary Estimates. Therefore, when Parliament considered the Supplementary Estimates as tabled, the request only indicated that money was to be used to reduce border congestion.
The funding request was not made in a transparent manner
2.13 - In our view, by presenting the request for funding in this way the government was not transparent about its purpose. Parliament was not provided with a clear explanation of the nature of the approval being sought or that these expenditures would not be required to meet the pre-existing terms and conditions of the Border Infrastructure Fund.