Blogging For Taxpayers

The Libranos 24 Comments

A call out to all you Blogging Tories out there – let’s give this initiative by David MacLean at the Taxpayers Federation a push.
Join the army of waste watchers!

Our challenge: Go through the mountains of travel, booze and meal expenses charged to taxpayers by hundreds of politicians and mandarins that are listed here.
Find the waste, look for conflicts, identify questionable expenditures. Take a moment to jot down your thought and email them to me. All of the worthwhile submissions will be posted here. The best submission, as determined by FFT contributors, will receive a copy of Tax Me I’m Canadian! and a free subscription to the Taxpayer magazine.

Details are here.

24 Replies to “Blogging For Taxpayers”

  1. Just out of interest, by what standards are we to judge these expenses?
    By Treasury Board (ie, Government of Canada guidelines) or by personal standards?
    It makes a big difference: if we go by personal standards, some folks would force our ambassadors to advance the cause of diplomacy by serving hot dogs and Kool-Aid!
    There are folks out there who would take exception to the expenses of any government – whether Tory, Lib or NDP.
    That’s neither realistic nor practical.

  2. LibSpeak from airhead bimbo BS, protecting the expense standards of the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ .
    Her would be a great GG!! As BS says: Fantastic!!! B—S—. BS. B—S—. BS from BS>>>>
    Hon. Belinda Stronach (Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, if anyone looks at the service Canada details, I think it is a fantastic story. It is about better service to more Canadians in more Canadian communities. In fact, we are expanding our points of service in the next couple of years from 300 to 600. Therefore, this is a great news story.
    There are many layers of accountability factored in, including an advisory board, an office for client satisfaction and a service charter.
    I am very proud to be associated with service Canada. It is a great news story.>>>>> Hansard
    newsbeat1.com

  3. Thanks Maz2. Let’s see how many MSM outlets pick this up. As for MP’s expenses, bloggers know the difference between realistic and frivolous use of tax dollars; but Libs have learned to justify it. This should be a good exercise for all of us, but would be even better if it ran in the Toronto Star or Globe. Results would be something to behold, given today’s story in the NP on the decline of Canadian’s interest in fiscal prudence.

  4. “the basement ballroom” Ballroom? In the basement?
    Ballroom in the basement for 600?????????
    “Decline in fiscal prudence”/ The words are nicy, nicey for Librano$ Hogs At The Trough, aka Librano$$$$$$ Hog$$$$$$$.
    Calming down now! Calm as she goes!!!>> please be NICE and PAY for this, Canadian SUCKERS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ( no apoology for yelling in PRINT)!!!>>>> Did anyone see this in mailine MSM??????>>>
    chris wattie/reuters
    Outgoing Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson and Prime Minister Paul Martin share a laugh during a farewell ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa yesterday.
    The Prime Minister’s Office has insisted that incoming governor general Micha�lle Jean nix plans to hold an intimate affair at Rideau Hall tonight following her installation, and instead is throwing a giant dinner party, a Rideau Hall source said.
    The dinner will be in the basement ballroom of Lansdowne Park, Ottawa’s football stadium.
    “Everyone, including Micha�lle Jean, thinks it’s ridiculous,” the source said. “She has, and we have now, quietly resigned ourselves to the fact that the PMO wants to make what they think is a big deal out of this dinner.”
    When Adrienne Clarkson was installed as governor general, she hosted her own dinner at Rideau Hall for 100 or so friends, family and others she wanted involved in her mandate.
    That was Jean’s plan until the PMO informed Rideau Hall about its dinner, with PMO officials saying they had already signed contracts to rent the venue, the source said.
    “We suggested that perhaps they modify the contract and turn the dinner into a reception … and then (Jean) and the Prime Minister could come back with a smaller group of 100 or 200 people and have what would be a nice dinner and not rubber chicken with some over-boiled vegetable and God knows what for dinner … ,” the source said. “We were told no.”
    The PMO said roughly 600 guests will be at tonight’s affair>>>>>>> 600 votes for Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$>>> more
    http://www.metronews.ca/news_detail.asp?id=11115

  5. We expect accountability from these people? We are paying through the nose for fuel–and the Liberal response–set up a committee to check on gas prices–the economy will plunge as most of our goods are trucked around this country. And we have a committee to check out gas prices–something that citizens across the country can find out from the ‘Net or using their eyes? And you want us to check up on waste? This entire government is a waste–that is all they understand–spending our money–they ‘give’ us nothing–we have bought and paid for everything and then some. Too bad the Liberals don’t use the money to buy a backbone and do something concrete like cutting taxes on fuel rather than wasting more on some useless committee–a committee that will be travelling around the country wasting more money on fuel, food and everything else–the tab also picked up by you and I.

  6. Wow, that didn’t take long to go OT.
    JJM, you’ve got a fair point but the Taxpayers Fed is going to be doing some judging and sorting. Also, I’d like to point out that the task is to try and find the most egregious waste and as a former populist Reform Party member I’m hoping to trust the grassroots’ judgement a little bit.
    Maz2, if Michaelle Jean really didn’t want a large reception like that, then it’s probably the first amount of respect I have for her. I just heard on the news into work that only 46% of Cdn’s think she’s a good choice but 70% of Quebecers think she’s a good choice. With all the political pundits saying that the Libs are dead in Que for the next 10 years (even Warren Kinsella said that) you can be that this appointment was a “screw the rest of Canada, I want to save my seats in Quebec” selection. PMPM is such a dumbass. I never thought I could dislike anyone as much as Mulroney, and then Cretin came along. I didn’t think anyone could outdo Cretin for ignorance, corruption or crass politics, and then PMPM came along. I don’t bother crying for Canada any more, I’ve pretty much given up!

  7. Stronach to sell Magna shares
    By DANIEL LEBLANC
    Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach stands to make $15-million as she sells all of her holdings in Magna International Inc. to abide by conflict-of-interest rules for members of cabinet, public disclosure documents show
    In addition, Ms. Stronach sold about $4.6-million worth of shares in her family’s auto-parts company shortly after she entered cabinet last spring.
    Asked yesterday what she plans to do with the money, Ms. Stronach said: �I think I have to put it in the bank and save.�…
    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050927.wxstronach0927/BNStory/National/
    With so many vast global interests/holdings, & being on the director on so many various boards how can she possibly be effective in her position?
    http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/cgi-bin/sc_mrksv/coi/bin/coi.e/htaccess/search/search.submit.phtml

  9. Hey Chip,
    Because they – are – all – the – same. Got that?
    Canada has big spending socialists and suckers. That’s it.
    Guess which category you and I are in and most of the rest of the commentors here.
    Talking about it is our last remaining freedom .. the freedom to bitch!
    I won’t vote for any of them.
    There is much you can do to thwart them, keep more of your money and be happier …. bitching about them ain’t one of those things.
    Try looking into what you can DOOOOOOO and spend less time telling each other how bad they are and how angry they make you. That tack is childish. To quote Jean Luc Picard, “Wishing won’t make it so, number One.”

  10. the freedom to bitch!
    Exactly. The Librano$$$$$$$$$$$/NDP/Bloc have squashed dissent in this country. Why?
    YELL all the more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Down with the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  11. Maz2: Try writing a proper sentence.
    I think government should be run like business. In other words, I think public servants should expense everything, and only fly business class. That would be sweet.

  13. Terence Corcoran should read his own newspaper. Tories aren’t imitating the Librano$ so much as giving folks what they want: big spending and the high taxes that go with it. Canadians are suspicious of tax cuts. They like to whine about them, but shudder if it means they might have to become responsible for their own future, health and well-being. Tories are simply playing the game. How many times have they suggest a flat tax, or major tax cuts and decreased government. Howls of outrage drown out any discussion. But the Tories will go at taxes with an ax, as they will frivolous special interest groups. They just can’t talk about it. Because, as the NP notes, concerns about fiscal prudence are eroding in this country. Hope gas prices soar: that will finally make the people realize how grubby and grasping the Libs are. And I truly think it is the only thing at this point.

  14. uhh
    guys, seriously, can we cut back on the yelling, incoherence and excessive use of repeated letters, especially $.
    we are a bunch of foam mouthed right wingers, but jebus, no need to talk like a bunch of leftists.
    as to what’s excessive… no one but ambassadors should spend any more than would be spent at subway. public servants should be treated like servants, and should understand that they should derive no pleasure from any of their duties.
    if they have more than a 6 inch sub and a diet coke, it seriously should be inadmissable. but then i don’t think that anyone except for judges, prosecutors and the DND should make more than 15k.

  15. “Try writing a proper sentence”
    Try something other than corrupted spin, Loewen!
    Librano$$$$$$$
    Go maz2!!

  16. I was looking thru some expenses and saw many flights like this…
    Wondering what Class these people fly?
    Commercial Flight: $2,671.62
    This I assume is an Ottawa to Saskatoon flight…
    WestJet
    I just looked at costs for a return flight – Booking Oct 10 – Oct 14
    AirCanada – Latitude – $1415
    AirCanada – Executive Class – $2849
    WestJet – $765
    If u book further in advance – Nov 14 – 18
    WestJet – $558
    I would hope that most of these are scheduled meetings with some notice – perhaps they could fly economy(latitude) or WestJet and save some bucks.
    Merle

  17. What I want is a public service where no one is paid more than $20,000, and you get one pencil a year, and you can’t expense anything more than a happy meal, even if you’re travelling. That would lead to an AWESOME government and great policy outputs. AWESOME.

  20. “I think government should be run like business.”
    Government waste of income and investment bothers me too, but if our rights and services are seen as commodities, they won’t last long.

  21. I think Canadians should be able to buy their own h/c and UI through a private agency. After being laid off and forced to go on UI (EI – whatever), I feel sick just thinking about how much I’ve paid in over the years, and how little I’m getting in return. $45 billion in EI surplus, and Duceppe has been trying to get the Librano$ to explain where it is. Just think of how much could be saved privatizing these two major government troughs.

  22. How about Jacquie Orange at Finance Canada who is in charge of the Canada Savings Bond program. She charged $921 for a month for parking to attend Departmental meetings presumably in Ottawa. When I worked in that building the monthly parking fees were less than $200. Why doesn’t she just buy a monthly parking pass?

  23. Hey Lowend: Equating public servants with business people is the whole problem. Public servants are not, repeat, not business people. The last fourty years have seen an attempt to equate the two. The need for similar education and structure makes this seem reasonable. However the closest equivalent organization would be the Church. A public service is there to serve the people. Public servant, public service.

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