OTTAWA, Ont. — Prime Minister Jean Chretien was heavily criticized yesterday for giving politicians power over how to spend the $2 billion promised for infrastructure in the latest budget.

Originally, a foundation was to be formed at arms-length from the government to determine which infrastructure projects were most worthy of funding.

The Opposition yesterday accused Chretien of scrapping the foundation to ensure he had more say over which projects would be funded through the program.

“It’s about his legacy,” says an unnamed government source. “It was clear that he wanted to take control so he can say where the $2 billion will go.”

Alliance MP John Williams says the infrastructure program is nothing but a “slush fund” that will be used by Chretien to rally support for the next election.

“It’s scandalous,” Williams says.

Deputy Prime Minister was appointed to oversee the fund, but critics insist he will simply be the frontman and Chretien will be pulling his strings.

When the Strategic Infrastructure Foundation was first announced during the most recent federal budget, it was aimed at reducing political interference from the process of doling out funds for worthy projects.