Prime Minister Harper misspeaks

I guess he's following the lead of his communications director. The prime minister has given a statement supporting the recommendations of the Manley panel (video here). Then, near the end of answering questions from the media (around 1241 Eastern Time), he either lied or demonstrated he does not know what his government is doing.

Mr Harper was asked about the Manley panel's demand that new medium-lift helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) be acquired by next February to support the Afghan mission. He replied that these are "on order" and mentioned difficulties in securing delivery places on already-committed production lines. But neither the helicopters nor the UAVs are "on order".

The government itself recently officially stated that, while the helicopter procurement process for the helicopters is well underway, the award of an actual contract is only "expected by the end of 2008." (See "3. Medium- to Heavy-Lift Helicopters" at preceding link.) As for UAVs, the air force officer in charge of the project said in October 2007 that "...officials hope to get the first aircraft into Afghanistan "within months" of the contract being signed next year." No contract has yet been signed.

Nothing is "on order". Pitiful.

The prime minister went on to say that the government would look to NATO to provide the required capabilities by February 2009.

Update: From a Globe and Mail story:

The government has already placed its order for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles and is working with allies to secure them quickly, said Mr. Harper.

Really?

Upperdate: The prime minister's communcations director does not exactly clarify things adequately--see the last paragraph in this excerpt from a Globe and Mail story, Jan. 29:

...government officials later said the Prime Minister jumped the gun and that they are still trying to find the best way to obtain the equipment quickly...

Mr. Harper said the government has already started to act on those two fronts.

"First of all, let's be clear both in terms of the helicopters requested in the reports as well as the UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]. The government has these on order, has had them on order for some time [emphasis added - MC]," Mr. Harper said...

On helicopters, however, all the government has in the works is the aim of signing a contract late this year with Boeing Co...

No drones are on order at this point either. Still, the Department of National Defence is hoping to launch a competition soon to enter into a three-year lease agreement for fully operational UAVs at an approximate cost of $150-million...

Mr. Harper's spokeswoman, Sandra Buckler, added: "Everyone is aware the procurement process is well under way for Chinooks and UAVs."

That's not the same as "on order for some time". Greg Weston devotes a whole column to the matter in the Ottawa Sun:

PM in spin cycle
Harper needs to come clean on Canada's war effort in Afghanistan