After first denying it, the federal government is now admitting they gave more than $180,000 to the Pembina Institute.. A Conservative MP from Red Deer, Earl Dreeshen discovered the hidden payments, according to the Ottawa political website blacklocks.ca.Dreeshen had ask for the amount of money the feds had give to Calgary-based Pembina. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan replied zero..The Liberals then doubled down with Winnipeg MP Kevin Lamoureux accusing Dreeshen’s comments of being baseless..But it turned out the government had paid the left-leaning think-tank Pembina $182,958 for contracts, in addition to $1.7 million in federal grants..Blacklock’s said seven contracts were awarded to Pembina for consulting and research, all but one below the $25,000 threshold mandating open bidding..“I am discussing the matter with my department officials to ensure this does not happen again,” O’Regan told Blacklocks..“I know now that a mistake was made and this information was false. I am very sorry for that. I am deeply sorry.”.The apology left Dreeshen unmoved.. EarlDreeshenMP Earl Dreeshen .“The most frustrating aspect is they doubled down,” Dreeshen told Blacklocks..“It’s one thing to make a mistake – that’s why we are here, as a second set of eyes – but to double down, whether it’s arrogance or an attitude they can do anything they want.”
