Dance taxpayer, dance!
In March of last year, the [Brandon Folk Music and Art Society] submitted a 200-page funding application to the federal Department of Canadian Heritage, seeking a contribution of $2,088,066 from the Harper government toward the projected cost of the project. The balance would come from the provincial government ($1,114,065), the City of Brandon ($474,000) and from society fundraising ($500,000)
[…]
In addition to a copy of the society’s articles of incorporation, which show that BFMAS was incorporated by [Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell] and others several years ago, the application also contains a feasibility study which identifies Caldwell’s taxpayer-funded constituency office as a committed tenant of office space in the building.
Also in the application is a copy of a letter (on “Manitoba Legislative Assembly” letterhead) signed by Caldwell, in his capacity as MLA for Brandon East, in which he strongly endorses the project. It does not disclose that his wife is chair of BFMAS.
In NDP Manitoba, there’s a word for these schemes – “Thursday”.
Related: “Winnipeg Free Press reporters making an access to information request to the provincial government are told it will cost 1.9 million dollars to fulfill.”
Anyone voting for the NDP Socialist Swineherds deserve what they get, in the link at the end. Lorne Gunter details how taxes have risen over 1700%. How taxes now consume more of the average Canadian Families budget than the necessities of life. Food, Clothing and Shelter. And still the elite demand more. Canada needs a TAX REVOLT at all 3 levels of Government. The B*stards do not care and do not listen. http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/05/01/gunter-money-for-nothing
In the Winnipeg Free Pass no less. Progressive or anti-conservative views are usually de rigueur in that corner of the world.
But…but..I thot the NDP were as clean as the driven snow! Just ask the CBC!
Nepotism at its best.
This is what happens when a party is in power too long.
I am sure the Winnipeg Free Pass have known about this conflict of interest for years. They chose to expose it just after the NDP have won another majority. There will be no mention of NDP conflict of interest stories 4 years from now.
They didn’t, though. Check the author.
Every ballot cast for the Manitoba NDP should come with a mandatory kick in the ass. You know, in addition to the metaphorical one you receive by electing the effing NDP.
Put the four budgeted amounts into a simple pie chart and wham! the feds are asked to contribute 50%! WTF? OTOH, mighty thoughful of the Society to offer a token 12% to the overall cost.
What audacity.
“Winnipeg Free Press reporters making an access to information request to the provincial government are told it will cost 1.9 million dollars to fulfill.” Were I them, I’d tell them in writing that I insist on the access to information request, in a timely responsive manner and that I will be filing a further access to information request on all the particulars of why the initial response will cost $1.9 million. Call their bluff!
Unfortunately for Manitobans, the opposition benches have been led by milquetoasts like Stu Murray and then Hugh McFadden who continually gave the NDP a free pass on several scandals over the years.
sleazers are attracred to poltics like skeeters to a bug light, longer the government is in the more blood sucking sleezers you got.
“In a nation of sheep you will be ruled by wolves” – T. Paine
Ha Ha. Figured Drew would show up in SDA eventually, but it did take longer than I expected. So much stuff on this guy in his little kingdom…
May I suggest that instead of trying to indulge Emma’s pipedreams with taxpayers’ money, Brandon’s answer to Dr. Bovary would be much better off leaving politics and finding work in a capacity that allows him to keep a much closer eye on his wife.
It is my understanding that FOI’s in Manitoba are free under a certain amount of work to retrieve, and above that amount they can be charged for.
The PC opposition knows this, and has to break their FOI’s down into small bits under the limit. For example, if they want crime stats for 2009, they need to send 12 crime stat requests, one for each month of 2009, and add them together themselves in order to avoid paying the “retrieval fee.”
Question: Why aren’t the msm screaming their lungs out over this access to info fee? Their mantra for so long has been ‘those evil,secretive Conservatives!’..wouldn’t wanna screw that agenda up now would we?
Another 4 years of NDP majority for Manitobans to bend over and grab their ankles. Turn to the left and cough up more tax dollars please.
Our community orchestra is mostly amateurs with a few paid professionals and a fabulous conductor. We play great music pretty well, and have had some amazing concerts. We do casinos, fundraising, ticket sales (of course), get a few small grants from the gov, and have a few donors. Oh, did I mention we PAY to be members?
Simple solution. The federal government should just give a firm, but polite, NO to the funding request.
Sure … the wailing and gnashing of teeth would be deafening from those that are being denied access to the trough, but the privileged few who would benefit from the facility would never vote Conservative anyway.
I will not hold my breath on the Winnipeg free Pass holding the NDP accountable!
This will be a one day wonder and then buried forever.
NDP good… PC bad in the Winnipeg Free Pass in my lifetime anyway.
Who needs to convert a theatre? Just toss them in with the other white elephant in town, the Canadian Human Rights museum.
Read the article, Dr. D. This theatre is in Brandon, which is why the Freep is willing to make a stink about it. They are very jealous of any spending outside the Perimeter.
Manitoba Dipper government recently increased even further the squeeze on the poor, benighted Manitoba taxpayer. After years of bad-mouthing a possible HST arrangement with the feds as being good only for business, not the consumer, their last budget expanded independently the reach of the PST to new items such as home insurance, haircuts and other services. In addition they put another 2.5 cents a litre on gasoline (I guess it’s not taxed enough) and allowed for further declines in tax bracket indexing behind their federal cousins. Perhaps they need the extra revenue to fund Drew’s pipe dreams, and perhaps other Dipper Dreams heretofore not covered in the WFP.
Manitoba voters will get a chance to deny them a fifth consecutive term in 2015; will they be smart enough to take that chance this time?
Felis,
The Manitoba NDP is getting ready to drop their pants for the Feds to rev up the HST in anticipation of the renegotiated Federal Transfer payment scheme in 2014.
Manitoba is Canada’s largest reserve and like a good First Nation chief, Chief Selinger needs his welfare payment from his favorite white man, The Eeevil Stefan Har-purr
BOHCA – Bend Over Here it Comes Again