Speaker Peter Milliken has ruled a 2009 CIDA document signed by International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda, which defunded the aid agency Kairos, was 'doctored.'  (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

By CBC News

International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda told Parliament Monday that she was the person who directed that a recommendation from her staff be altered to deny funding to a church-backed aid group.

The minister was backtracking on previous statements in which she said Kairos had lost its funding because the group's work no longer fit with the Canadian International Development Agency's objectives -- suggesting she was acting on her department's recommendation.

The agency had recommended that Kairos should get $7 million, and the fact the document was "doctored" -- a "not" was inserted to change its meaning -- drew a strong rebuke from Speaker Peter Milliken. Oda's reversal came just before the House foreign affairs committee voted to find the matter a point of privilege. It is writing a report on Oda's earlier testimony, will discuss it Wednesday and then send to the House.

"I wish to clearly inform the House of the matter and clear up any misunderstanding that exists," Oda said Monday. "... The 'not' was inserted at my direction.

"... The CIDA officials did forward a document in which they sought approval of the recommendation for funding of the Kairos proposal. But ultimately the decision to provide funding was mine -- or, to not provide funding -- was mine as minister of international co-operation," she said.

"I was fully aware that my decision was not aligned with the recommendation of the department."

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