OTTAWA – It appears the NDP is not impressed with the new paint job on the prime minister’s plane.
The military Airbus CC-150 Polaris, which gets maintenance every six years including a fresh coat of paint, used to be a nondescript grey.
But it was recently spruced up in red, white and Conservative blue to the tune of an estimated $50,000.
In question period Friday, NDP MP Pat Martin used some colourful language to ask about the makeover.
“Mr. Speaker, never mind the $90,000 mystery cheques, I wonder how it feels for grassroots Conservative MPs to be forced to defend using tax dollars to play ‘Pimp my Ride’ with the Prime Minister’s flying Taj Mahal,” asked the Winnipeg MP, known for his linguistic creativity.
“I wonder, did they use the (Prime Minister’s Office) slush fund to re-brand ‘air force run’ in Conservative Party colours?”
Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was not impressed. “What I do not understand, quite clearly, is what is the problem with the New Democratic Party that every time we start to do anything good for Canada, they oppose it,” he said.
“Speaking about this Airbus, it will carry Canadian symbols, Canadian national symbols. I do not understand why they have a problem with Canadian national symbols.”
After QP, Martin continued: “I think it’s the most shameless, blatant, partisan – it’s like having a flying Conservative Party campaign sign, for God’s sakes. I mean how would people like it if when the NDP forms a government we paint the prime minister’s plane orange, our party colours?” he asked.
“I mean if you’re going to paint the country’s plane anything, you paint it the colours of the flag. I mean by an unfortunate coincidence those happen to be the Liberal Party’s colours but so be it. That’s what we’re stuck with. That’s about all I have to say on that.”
Follow Laura on Twitter: @l_stone
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