Expensive questions: It cost taxpayers $150,000 to answer a singl

[Sleipnir]

Expensive questions: It cost taxpayers $150,000 to answer a single query from a Liberal MP

It cost taxpayers an estimated $1.2-million to answer written questions from MPs – including $150,000 on a single query from a Liberal MP, new figures reveal.

The questions, 305 of them, were all tabled in the House of Commons during a three-month period this year, and they were wide-ranging.

For instance, a written question from NDP MP Peter Stoffer about IT spending at the Department of Defence, Public Security and other federal agencies cost $15,733 to answer. It cost $15,358 to study the kinds of backdrops the government used when making announcements between February 2011 and June 2012 — a question asked by Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, of Winnipeg North. Mr. Lamoureux tabled four questions on June 19, for a total cost of $46,228.

NDP MP Alexandrine Latendresse’s question about expenses related to engraved letterheads used by the Conservatives was answered after $21,600 of research. The Quebec-City area MP submitted three questions on May 2, racking up a $39,000 bill.

http://news.national...use-of-commons/

I had to double check to make sure it wasn't a satirical article from The Onion.

Any thoughts?

Edit: Yes I know the title got cut off, it showed the full title before I post the thread.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Sleipnir

[Fletch 27]

The opp will do anything to get on air... Regardless of how much it bleeds the taxpayer.

[Moonlight Graham]

From the article:

But Liberal MP David McGuinty says the figures released on the cost of questions is just a diversionary tactic to intimidate parliamentarians.

“Let me get this straight, the Conservatives can put a price on the order [paper] questions but can’t seem to cost the F-35,” Mr. McGuinty said. “But they’ve spent hours and hours figuring out how much these questions cost.”

Edited December 19, 2012 by Moonlight Graham

[Michael Hardner]

It doesn't say how these costs are calculated. It's anti-Democratic to suggest this, IMO:

Tory backbencher Brian Jean, who feels the opposition should be limited in the number of written questions it puts to the government.

[cybercoma]

The Conservatives are done. They're digging their heels in to undermine the privilege of parliamentarians as representative of Canadians themselves. The Conservatives are telling you that your representative can STFU in parliament. That if your party does not form government, it does not matter. The Conservatives are giving the middle finger to over 60% of Canadians.

[login]

here is a better question.. why did it cost money to answer those questions?

since when did the public service need to be bribed to answer questions?

Edited December 22, 2012 by login

[Bonam]

The Conservatives are done. They're digging their heels in to undermine the privilege of parliamentarians as representative of Canadians themselves. The Conservatives are telling you that your representative can STFU in parliament. That if your party does not form government, it does not matter. The Conservatives are giving the middle finger to over 60% of Canadians.

How so? Conservative MPs hold 165/308 ridings, and thus represent about 54% of Canadians.

Now, as to the costs, any question that requires a substantial amount of factual information that is not instantly available to answer will incur research time and the associated cost. However, one would assume that the individuals doing said research are already government employees and being paid a salary anyway, and thus it would not be reasonable to itemize the cost of doing said research as if it's an extra cost that would not have been incurred anyway.

Unfortunately, politics has become so polarized that people will misrepresent anything to try to shed a bad light on their opponents. Whether it's the costs of F-35s or the costs of answering questions, people count costs that would have been incurred anyway, all to further their political agenda.

Edited December 22, 2012 by Bonam

[jacee]

here is a better question.. why did it cost money to answer those questions?

since when did the public service need to be bribed to answer questions?

They just have to be paid, and their time accounted for.

[login]

They just have to be paid, and their time accounted for.

They just have to be paid, and their time accounted for.

so does not asking questions cost money too?