Controversy surrounding the Canadian government’s decision to cut funding for an international church-backed aid group is “very troubling” because it makes senior government officials appear to have signed an altered document, the speaker of Canada’s House of Commons said.
Speaker Peter Milliken was referring to the case of a Canadian International Development Agency memorandum on the approval of funding for Kairos. The document has been tampered with, according to Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Beverly Oda.
>> Beverley Oda: CIDA Document Altered
The two-page document recommending the approval of some 7.09 million Canadian dollars (USD7.03 million) for Kairos’ human rights activities was originally signed by two top CIDA officials in September 2009. But a handwritten “NOT” was inserted between the words “you” and “approve” on the memorandum’s last line, as Devex reported.
CIDA President Margaret Briggs testified that the word “not” wasn’t in the document when she signed it, The Global and Mail says.
The case is being investigated by a House of Commons committee based on a complaint filed by John McKay, a member of the Liberal Party, who wants to have Oda cited for contempt.
Milliken has criticized Oda over the matter but said he could not make a decision on the case until it moves from the committee level to the full House of Commons floor.
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