5 billion more to parliament renovations...

[Saipan]

No, I mean BEST GGs... If by "best spenders" you mean most frugal, perhaps, I'd have to check...

Yes, you do that.

Adriane Clarkson spent MOST BY FAR. 'Specially on "important" wine tasting trips to Europe with all her huge entourage. Something Canada really needs.

Maybe you should talk to Moroney who gave the Bloc seats in Parliament about that...

He too had two citizenships and passports like Stephan Dion......etc.?

[Smallc]

Adriane Clarkson spent MOST BY FAR. 'Specially on "important" wine tasting trips to Europe with all her huge entourage. Something Canada really needs.

The Governor General does not decide what he spends or where he goes. Someone who has such little knowledge of the way Canada's system of government and constitution works shouldn't comment on such things.

Edited February 5, 2011 by Smallc

[Saipan]

When was it repealed? That's great news!

Because of perpertual amnesties since 1998 it wasn't in force yet. We only wasted the money.

Not that it would make ANY difference on crime.

The gun registry wouldn't have happened if some nut hadn't killed 14 women... Your point?

It's pretty sad we make laws according to individual nuts.

Remember Denis Lortie?? So what we'll do about military????

[dre]

As far as a political issue goes this is pretty unimportant, and all governments do this kind of thing.

Whats a little bit disturbing however is that I think most would argue that the west is approaching a period of austerity and governments are going to be asking people to make some sacrifices. Its already happening in western countries. Governments however seem to be reacting these budget problems by engaging in a massive orgy of spending. Theyre throwing billion dollar parties for themselves, buying 20 billion dollars worth of Military hardware we dont need, running record defecits and how they want put 5 billion dollars into their headquarters.

If a Canadian family ran its household finances like our government their kids would be eating feces out of the ditch in less than 5 years.

[Smallc]

You're wrong in this case Dre. This $5B has already been partly spent, and the program has been going on for over 10 years now. This isn't anything new.

[fellowtraveller]

Here's an alternative: tear down the moldering pile of shit and build something that will last.

For half price.

Duplicate what is there exactly with modern material for a quarter the price.

I have no sentimental attachment whatsoever to the buildings or see any need to house politicians so grandly.

[jbg]

I have no sentimental attachment whatsoever to the buildings or see any need to house politicians so grandly.

As a lawyer, I can tell you that lawyers behave better in buildings that give some sense of grandeur.

[Smallc]

Here's an alternative: tear down the moldering pile of shit and build something that will last.

For half price.

Duplicate what is there exactly with modern material for a quarter the price.

I have no sentimental attachment whatsoever to the buildings or see any need to house politicians so grandly.

That's nice for you to not have any attachment, but if I may, who will speak for Canada? The reality is, that these buildings are an important symbol of this great nation, and if we're willing to just throw away our important symbols then we might as well not exist.

Despite some (diminishing) opinions to the contrary, Canada has an identity. These buildings are a very small, but very important part of that identity. They represent and showcase where we've come from as a country, as well as the things that we've accomplished since this Confederation came into being. They are not simply buildings that can be torn down and replaced. They are places where history is, was, and will be made. They are places where Canadian government leaders have greeted presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs. They are places that are deserving of our attention and of our care.

Also, a side note - the building renovations themselves will in fact cost $2.5B or in that range. The $5B price includes possible new builds, as the parliamentary part of government is spread out across Ottawa and needs to be consolidated for security and efficiency.

Edited February 5, 2011 by Smallc

[Smallc]

As a lawyer, I can tell you that lawyers behave better in buildings that give some sense of grandeur.

There's no question that symbols and buildings are important to countries. They need to be preserved, because they say something about the country.

[bush_cheney2004]

As a lawyer, I can tell you that lawyers behave better in buildings that give some sense of grandeur.

Agreed....during a break from a deposition about 12 years ago, I sent the lawyers off track by casually remarking that they worked in a dump!

[dre]

You're wrong in this case Dre. This $5B has already been partly spent, and the program has been going on for over 10 years now. This isn't anything new.

Im sure youre right, and like I said this issue in itself is rather unimportant. My point is though its an example of how the government does business. The reality is that our government cannot even fund its own daily operation, and its completely divorced from the simple common sense economics that every canadian household has to deal with on a daily basis.

Id LOVE to do a quarter of million dollar reno on my house. But if my expenses already exceed my revenue, then Im not going to do it. Maybe Ill spend a few thousand dollars fixing the things that absolutely cant wait instead.

[Smallc]

Id LOVE to do a quarter of million dollar reno on my house. But if my expenses already exceed my revenue, then Im not going to do it. Maybe Ill spend a few thousand dollars fixing the things that absolutely cant wait instead.

Many of these renovations can't wait. That said, it isn't as if the Canadian government has been in deficit for very many years (in recent times, anyway). The deficit is shrinking overall, and should be gone by or shortly after the target date.

[Jack Weber]

.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Jack Weber

[Saipan]

The Governor General does not decide what he spends or where he goes. Someone who has such little knowledge of the way Canada's system of government and constitution works shouldn't comment on such things.

So who does?

[Smallc]

So who does?

The Governor General only travels on the advice of his or her ministers. In other words, the government decides.

[GWiz]

That isn't even remotely true.

- To tackle the financial and economic crisis that spread across the globe in 2008, the G20 members were called upon to further strengthen international cooperation. Accordingly, the G20 Summits have been held in Washington in 2008, in London and Pittsburgh in 2009, and in Toronto and Seoul in 2010. -

http://www.g20.org/about_what_is_g20.aspx

By edit:

Seoul G20: South Korea's coming-out party

By Donald Kirk — Special to GlobalPost

Published: November 10, 2010 06:40 ET in Asia

- Analysis: As world leaders meet in South Korea, the global economy will likely be left in the lurch. -

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-korea/101109/g20-summit-seoul-global-economy?page=0,1

Edited February 6, 2011 by GWiz

[Saipan]

The Governor General only travels on the advice of his or her ministers. In other words, the government decides.

They told her how much to spend?

Other interesting tidbits about Adriane Clarkson. "Her own two daughters decided to be adapted by her ex-husband second wife."

"....becoming president and publisher of McClelland and Stewart, at a time when the publisher was in financial difficulty. Clarkson was not only unsuccessful at improving the company's fiscal problems, she was also highly unpopular with employees, and resigned herself after 18 months that saw several protest resignations....."

"Her precise diction and sometimes haughty demeanor has been the subject of satire, most famously in the CBC Radio series Double Exposure, where co-creator Linda Cullen mimicked Clarkson with the line, "I'm Adrienne Clarkson, and you're not" "

[Smallc]

They told her how much to spend?

Yes, they did. Almost all of the money she spent wasn't actually money from Rideau Hall. The trips for example, were paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the advice of the PM or Minister of Foreign Affairs. The art in Rideau Hall came from a variety of federal government sources, such as the Crown Collections, the Library and Archives, or Heritage Canada.

[Smallc]

.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Smallc

[Saipan]

Yes, they did. Almost all of the money she spent wasn't actually money from Rideau Hall. The trips for example, were paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the advice of the PM or Minister of Foreign Affairs. The art in Rideau Hall came from a variety of federal government sources, such as the Crown Collections, the Library and Archives, or Heritage Canada.

I got it. A different tax money

[Smallc]

I got it. A different tax money

I think you missed the point.

[Jack Weber]

I think you missed the point.

Is that really shocking?

[Smallc]

Is that really shocking?

I guess not....

[Saipan]

I think you missed the point.

What's your point? That some tax money can be wasted while other tax money should not?

Did you ever wonder where the money comes from?

[Smallc]

What's your point? That some tax money can be wasted while other tax money should not?

You definitely missed the point. I wasn't commenting on whether or not the money should have been spent. I was commenting on your misunderstanding of who actually spent the money. That has nothing to do with where it came from.