The National Citizens Coalition has released its 6th Tales of the Tax Trough, a depressing look at the gross waste of taxpayer dollars by Canadian governments. It’s been five years since they released their last Tales.
They start the booklet reporting on excessive travel expenses by politicians and their staff: A $17,537 flight to Sydney, Australia or Maxime Bernier to go to the APEC meeting. A $13,965 flight to Nairobi for MP Rona Ambrose for the UN conference on climate change. A $10,400 flight to Geneva for former MP David Emerson for WTO meetings. An $8,668 flight to Brussels for MP Peter MacKay for one NATO meeting. MP Tony Clement and two political staffers spent $30,000 to fly to Kenya to deliver a $150,000 cheque. Toronto Mayor David Miller, twelve councillors and four staff members went to a conference in Quebec in May 2008 for a cost of $41,854.57.
Tales from the Tax Trough also provides examples of government grants through the Social Studies and Humanities Research Council. These grants are supposedly intended to “advance knowledge, and build understanding for a vibrant and healthy democracy.” Would you freely contribute any of your hard-earned income to any of these projects?
“Pioneer Sex: sexuality’s desolate frontiers, past and present,” $67,140.
“Women on the road: gender, politics, and poetry in Japanese medieval travel diaries,” $75,190.
“Governing people, spaces and rubber in Xishuangbanna, China,” $75,100.
“Explaining difference in human rights protections: the expansion of gay and lesbian rights in Argentina, Chile and Mexico,” $62,156.
“An unpublished medieval commentary on Babylonian Talmud Tractate Niddah: Menstruants,” $81,188.
Other examples of waste noted by the NCC:
“An audit of the native run fishing company, Indian Brook Fisheries, Ltd, revealed that $600,000 of a $4.3 million contract with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans cannot be accounted for. This included $450,000 which was never paid to suppliers and $130,000 that had no expense claims.”
“Quebec City received $110 million for the 400th anniversary celebration of French settlement and Newfoundland received $3 million for the 400th anniversary celebration of English settlement.”
“Senior managers at Radio-Canada billed more than $1,400 in booze during a two-day retreat in 2006.”
“Corporations collecting interest of up to seven per cent on tax overpayments have cost the government more than $90 million over the past three years (2005-2008).”
“Natural Resources Canada paid $3.2 million to an organization involved in a serious conflict of interest that the department did not notice, even though the organization was insolvent and the payments were contrary to an agreement with the department.”
“John Noseworthy, Auditor General for Newfoundland and Labrador, revealed details on $1,600,000 in excessive expense claims that were filed by five politicians, with amounts going directly into their own bank accounts.”
For your own copy of Tales from the Tax Trough VI, contact the NCC at 1-888-703-5553; 27 Queen St. E., Suite 501, Toronto, ON M5C 2M6. www.nationalcitizens.ca.
Public date: November 6th, 2009Categories: News
Tags: National Citizens Coalition, taxpayer dollars, waste
