Harper pulls an Allison Redford gives EU leaders 300,000$ flight

[cybercoma]

We can argue priorities... this gov't's priorities are seriously flawed. And they pay lip service to issues such as veterans affairs... but they still need to spend money on things like travel and meetings.. that's why I don't think that this is an issue.

I didn't say that this was money well spent.... only that it was nothing like Redford's use of jets.

This is a stupid issue. I'm just saying how some people might perceive it.

But I mean this crap is par for the course with the Harper Government. They spend more time and money on putting up appearances than actually doing anything of substance. Die hard Conservatives like PIK swallow it hook, line, and sinker.

Edited September 29, 2014 by cybercoma

[Bob Macadoo]

Sorry but there's nothing scandalous about this.

You're right.....it doesn't reach scandal just everyday politics.....ho-hum.

[Smallc]

It's the business of government.

[G Huxley]

Canada is supposed to be a democracy, not a corrupt business for an elite group of cronies selling the property of Canada for as much short term profit as possible to foreigners/investors and with bribes in the processes and no care for the long term interests of Canada and its citizens who pay for this duplicity with their tax dollars.

[Topaz]

What the news is saying that 4 days before the EU Summit, the government decided to have this EU group meet with business leaders in TO, find but the problem came when the EU group HAD to be back in Europe and had missed their commercial flight, so the Tories decided they would fly them back to Europe at a cost of 300,000+ of taxpayer money. Is it a waste of money......only time will tell but I think it may have been against the government rules.

[Smallc]

I don't see how it could be against government rules.

[On Guard for Thee]

I don't see how it could be against government rules.

I'm no expert on what those rules are but Evan Solomon had a list of them in front of him on Power and Politics today. As he ticked them off there was a lot of squirming going on from the CPC secretary who got thrown under the bus to deal with this issue.

[Smallc]

This is why I have so much trouble taking the criticism of the conservatives very seriously. This is the biggest non scandal ever.

[On Guard for Thee]

Not so much a scandal as a complete and utter waste of taxpayer money to get a cheap ass photo op. Now pony up your portion of the airplane costs and be quiet.

[Smallc]

I already did. I don't care, and neither does anyone else.

[On Guard for Thee]

Oh buddy, now there's a very wrong assumption. This one ain't going away any time soon. Harper left himself wide open and he hasn't even actually got the deal done yet. A gift on a silver platter to the opposition.

[Smallc]

No one will care about the flight next week.

[On Guard for Thee]

You could very well be right. Matter of fact I'd like to see the opposition dig into this FIPA fiasco. That has the potential to cost us some REAL money.

[On Guard for Thee]

In any case he has stumbled and bumbled again. He was hoping to get some good press over his (faux) EU deal and now he has to try and crawl out from under the plane deal. What's your bet as to what gets the most press?

[Bob Macadoo]

I already did. I don't care, and neither does anyone else.

If your provincial government did it (blue or red) people would be shaking their heads and making another notch on the talley board......why is a federal gov't (again red or blue) exempt from the same criticism? Its not Adscam but it certainly is more piggery at the trough.....not "gov't business".

Edit:

Why do things have to get to Adscam before people take offense? Apathy to low level events lead to the arrogance of high level events.

Edited September 30, 2014 by Bob Macadoo

[Smallc]

Because entertaining foreign dignitaries are normal for the federal government. So these two were upgraded from their normal level and given a ride home...so what?

[cybercoma]

I don't see how it could be against government rules.

Responsible government and all that. Unless you're perfectly ok with the government just spending money on whatever the hell it wants without any input from your representative in the House.

As was mentioned earlier, Evan Solomon listed off the rules that it broke.

This is why I have so much trouble taking the criticism of the conservatives very seriously. This is the biggest non scandal ever.

You're right. Most people don't give a crap about Parliamentary procedure and rules. Most people don't even know Canada is a monarchy. Do you not think that the government should be following the rule of law? I know this is not going to get public traction. But are you ok with the government breaking the law?

[Smallc]

Of course the government should follow the rules, but this doesn't seem like the type of thing (catering to foreign dignitaries) that the rules were meant to catch. It's simply not a big deal. But hey, if the opposition wants to focus on this, go for it

[cybercoma]

So the government should follow the rules, but you couldn't care less if they do or not?

[Smallc]

Sometimes the rules get in the way of doing business, and need to be changed.

[cybercoma]

Sometimes the rules get in the way of doing business, and need to be changed.

Spoken like a tyrant. Sometimes I just want to spend the taxpayers money without the cumbersome hassle of running it by their representatives. That's what you're saying in this context and I'm absolutely certain that idea would be appalling to you if it was the NDP arguing it.

[Smallc]

I can assure you that it would bother me if the NDP were doing it. There is far too much red tape in many situations. this was not a bad use of government funda considering the officials involved. There was no intent here either.

[cybercoma]

What's half a million for a flight for some "dignitaries" and another billion for G20 "policing" and, oh I'm sorry, the Vets want us to take care of them after their tours? Piss off. That's what this looks like.

Edited September 30, 2014 by cybercoma

[Smallc]

I'm not in favour of the way the government has treated the military or veterans. Oh, and the G20 came in at far below budgeted estimates. This is all faux outrage that does nothing but turn people off of politics in general.

[cybercoma]

I'm not talking about pushing this message on other people. I'm talking about the people who've already said they have a problem with it and why. I don't give a crap about this issue and neither do most other people. The ones who do give a crap about it have a legitimate complaint, imo. How can you turn your nose up at veterans with the excuse that there's no money, then suddenly find hundreds of thousands of dollars for this underneath the mattress? It's insulting.