Take The "Guess The Auditor General Report" Quiz: Chinook Helicopter or F-35?

Peter MacKay: Why does Rona get everything? Rona, Rona, Rona!

Between the Harper Government's complete ignorance of the desolate living conditions found in the First Nation reserve of Attawapiskat, the suspected widespread election fraud that points to the Conservatives and their misleading of Canadians of the estimated costs of the F-35 fighter jets to the tune of $10 billion, Canadian politics have certainly seemed rather dour these last few months.

Sure, you could get upset and disconsolate about the state of our democracy... or you can make a game of it! Turn that frown upside down, I say!

With that in mind, it's time to take the Guess The Auditor General Report Quiz!

In the Fall of 2010, the Auditor General released a report criticizing the bidding process and the underestimation of the costs of a military procurement. Sounds familiar? It should! A new Auditor General report is criticizing the government for the exact same things but at a much steeper cost.

Can you tell your Chinook / Cyclone helicopters from your F-35 fighter jets? Find out! (Answers are at the bottom but don't cheat like a Conservative would by looking at the answers beforehand!)

1) "The manner in which Public Works and Government Services Canada used the advance contract award notice did not comply with the letter or intent of the applicable regulations and policies and, consequently, the contract award process was not fair, open, and transparent."

a) Chinook / Cyclone Report
b) F-35 Report

2) Which Auditor General Report criticized the Department of National Defence for not presenting full life-cycle costs to Parliament?

a) Chinook / Cyclone
b) F-35
c) Both

3) Which military procurement has suffered from schedule delays and cost increases?

a) Chinook / Cyclone
b) F-35
c) Both

4) "National Defence did not provide complete information in a timely manner. For example, briefing materials prepared for decision makers did not explain the basis for and limitations of projections of industrial benefits to Canadian companies, and the risks of relying on the projections for decision making."

a) Chinook / Cyclone Report
b) F-35 Report

5) Associate Stephen Harper's talking points that he used during Question Period to the appropriate Auditor General Report:

1 - "Mr. Speaker, the government is reviewing and will implement recommendations by the Auditor General. [...] We are going to buy the best equipment for the Canadian Forces. We already have work going to the aviation sector across the country..."

2 - "Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has been very clear on responsibility for this in the report and the government is taking the responsibility to act on his recommendations. We will re-examine, as the Auditor General has suggested, the cost estimates before proceeding. We will ensure there is a more independent process to verify the accuracy of those estimates."

A) Chinook / Cyclone
B) F-35

6) Which of these Ministers were in charge of a responsible ministry for both these purchases when the reports were released? (Defence, Public Works, Industry or Treasury Board)

a) Rona Ambrose, Peter MacKay, Tony Clement
b) Julian Fantino, Peter MacKay, Vic Toews
c) Rob Anders, Pierre Poilievre and Dean Del Mastro
d) Stephen Harper

7) "We found that National Defence engaged Public Works and Government Services Canada late in the decision-making process and hampered Public Works and Government Services Canada's ability to carry out its responsibilities as contracting authority to ensure the integrity of the procurement process."

a) Chinook / Cyclone Report
b) F-35 Report

8) The "Joint Strike Fighter Program" - to which Canada has already spent $335 million and is committed to pay a total of $710 million - is associated with what expenditure?

a) Chinook / Cyclone
b) F-35
c) Peter MacKay Fishing Getaway


Congratulations on completing the quiz! Scroll down to get the answers. Now challenge your friends and compare results!

Results
7-8 correct answers: You win the Philippe Lagassé Trophy!
5-6 correct answers: You are immune to Conservative Talking Points
3-4 correct answers: RMG will call you shortly about a donation to the Conservatives
1-2 correct answers: A Senate appointment is a distinct possibility
0 correct answers: You win the Chris Alexander Trophy!

Answers:
1) -A- 2) -C- 3) -C- 4) -B- 5) 1&A, 2&B
6) -A- (although D is correct in practice) 7) -B- 8) -B-