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

[Argus]

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.

This sort of thing is generally considered just the cost of doing business. But I'll grant you, a real conservative would have balked at the money.

When Joe Clark became PM he refused to allow MPs to buy new furniture for their offices (Which was kind of a tradition). He ordered everything be re-used.

When Trudeau came back in nine months later they threw out masses of stuff and bought all new carpets and furniture again.

I wonder how much MPs have been allowed to spend on furniture the last eight years?

[Argus]

No one will care about the flight next week.

No one other than feral ideologues cares about it THIS week.

[The_Squid]

This sort of thing is generally considered just the cost of doing business. But I'll grant you, a real conservative would have balked at the money.

When Joe Clark became PM he refused to allow MPs to buy new furniture for their offices (Which was kind of a tradition). He ordered everything be re-used.

When Trudeau came back in nine months later they threw out masses of stuff and bought all new carpets and furniture again.

I wonder how much MPs have been allowed to spend on furniture the last eight years?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-spend-over-123-6m-in-office-and-other-expenses-1.1873801

You can see how much each MP spent on furniture here:

http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/800297-mp-expenses2013.html

[hitops]

Granted this thing was not quite as blatantly dishonest as Redfords thing but it's irritating because it's just Harper grandstanding yet again and a total waste of tax dollars. They haven't even signed the friggin deal yet and here's our bozo out popping corks and racking up a 340+k bill. I just have to shake my head.

Before signing a deal is when you do the red carpet stuff. That's how you held grease things to get the deal done. Pretty standard for political and business relations everywhere. That's no different from any government.

It's the same as diplomatic immunity. Why should anyone get that? Seems unfair because the rest of us have to abide by local laws. Yet we know it's a necessary perk to offer for the sake of international relations.

We can all say it's a waste, but reality is that this stuff needs to happen to schmooze ourselves some deals. The world is an imperfect place. The benefits of a free trade deal would probably be well beyond many thousands of times the cost of this plane trip.

Now if we spend a few bucks and nothing gets done, that's when he's a doofus.

Edited September 30, 2014 by hitops

[Argus]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-spend-over-123-6m-in-office-and-other-expenses-1.1873801

You can see how much each MP spent on furniture here:

http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/800297-mp-expenses2013.html

I don't believe these really give us much insight. First, we have nothing to compare it with, second, I don't believe the actual furniture for MPs and Minsters comes out of their office budgets (not sure about constituency offices). I think it's ordered by them but supplied by Parliament through a central budget.

[The_Squid]

I don't believe these really give us much insight. First, we have nothing to compare it with, second, I don't believe the actual furniture for MPs and Minsters comes out of their office budgets (not sure about constituency offices). I think it's ordered by them but supplied by Parliament through a central budget.

You didn't read the link.

It also lists resources spent on furniture that were provided by the House.

[Argus]

You didn't read the link.

It also lists resources spent on furniture that were provided by the House.

Squid, the second link was 320 pages long.

In any event, we'd need comparisons from previous governments to determine whether they were spending more or less.

[overthere]

And in recent years, spending has decreased.

One factor in decreased military spending is that we are not fighting a ground war in Asia today.

I wonder how much MPs have been allowed to spend on furniture the last eight years?

I wonder if MPs have been allowed to donate $200 million to Liberal friendly ad agencies in the last 8 years?

[On Guard for Thee]

Before signing a deal is when you do the red carpet stuff. That's how you held grease things to get the deal done. Pretty standard for political and business relations everywhere. That's no different from any government.

It's the same as diplomatic immunity. Why should anyone get that? Seems unfair because the rest of us have to abide by local laws. Yet we know it's a necessary perk to offer for the sake of international relations.

We can all say it's a waste, but reality is that this stuff needs to happen to schmooze ourselves some deals. The world is an imperfect place. The benefits of a free trade deal would probably be well beyond many thousands of times the cost of this plane trip.

Now if we spend a few bucks and nothing gets done, that's when he's a doofus.

So far Harper has essentially re-enacted a GW Bush "Mission Accomplished" show. Nobody has signed anything of any import so far and there are still holdouts (Germany for one). Let's hope he/we has better luck than Bush.

[Argus]

One factor in decreased military spending is that we are not fighting a ground war in Asia today.

I wonder if MPs have been allowed to donate $200 million to Liberal friendly ad agencies in the last 8 years?

I don't really question that the Harper government is more honest (in terms of what it spends our money on) than the previous Liberal government. It could be a lot better, however. It could stop spending all that money on advertising, for example. It's not like the advertising even works! I voted for him and I'm heartily sick of hearing about his stupid Economic Action Plan

[Smallc]

Agreed, the advertising dollars are a huge waste of money. This flight...not so much.

[The_Squid]

Agreed, the advertising dollars are a huge waste of money. This flight...not so much.

Two dignitaries received a $300,000 flight on the Canadian taxpayer dime because they didn't want to miss the party.

It's not Redford-like thievery, but it certainly is tax dollars being misspent.

[Smallc]

Because the Canadian government wanted them to be there for a meeting with business leaders, they missed their commercial flight. As a result of that, the government provided them with alternate transportation.

[On Guard for Thee]

I don't really question that the Harper government is more honest (in terms of what it spends our money on) than the previous Liberal government. It could be a lot better, however. It could stop spending all that money on advertising, for example. It's not like the advertising even works! I voted for him and I'm heartily sick of hearing about his stupid Economic Action Plan

Oh yeah the good old Economic Action Plan. Now well over 100 million for nothing other than political propoganda at taxpayers expense. Kind of makes 350k for a showoff Xocean flight for 2 people who missed their plane seem paltry by comparison.

[The_Squid]

Because the Canadian government wanted them to be there for a meeting with business leaders, they missed their commercial flight. As a result of that, the government provided them with alternate transportation.

This was a reception (party), not a meeting. Nice try... you should work for the PMO in their media relations office!!

So there were no later commercial flights? Wow... how did that happen? Planes to Europe were all grounded?

[Smallc]

We inconvenienced them as we wanted them to be there. We could have paid for their flights I suppose, and I don't have an explanation for that.

[The_Squid]

We inconvenienced them as we wanted them to be there. We could have paid for their flights I suppose, and I don't have an explanation for that.

A reception is not a necessity. It's a fun time with free drinks and maybe some finger foods.

[Smallc]

And networking. That's very important. We wanted them.

Edited September 30, 2014 by Smallc

[overthere]

We inconvenienced them as we wanted them to be there. We could have paid for their flights I suppose, and I don't have an explanation for that.

It does not matter what you say, these minds slammed shut in 2006.

[Bob Macadoo]

We inconvenienced them as we wanted them to be there. We could have paid for their flights I suppose, and I don't have an explanation for that.

And neither do they that's the point being made. Its not a toppling scandal.....just another irritant. ....much like Paul Calandra......who they can trot out to explain this.

[overthere]

We inconvenienced them as we wanted them to be there. We could have paid for their flights I suppose, and I don't have an explanation for that.

And neither do they that's the point being made.

The reasons were explained simply in the OP linked article.

Here it is again

Jason MacDonald says a Canadian Forces Airbus was offered as a courtesy to ensure "that no elements" of Friday's Canada-EU summit were cut short.

Two top European Union leaders, Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso, were in Ottawa where they signed a Canada-EU free-trade agreement.

The CBC is reporting that adding a Toronto reception to the visit would have made it impossible for the EU delegation to catch a commercial flight from Ottawa and make it to a Saturday meeting in Brussels.

To help those unfamiliar with Euro politicians, Van Rompuy is the President of the European Council, former President of Belgium. Barroso is the Presdient of the European Commission, former President of Spain. These are not low level mutts.

[Smallc]

So then the flight was necessary if they were to attend the event as we wanted. It seems imply enough, doesn't it?

[On Guard for Thee]

It was an expensive photo op for Harper. He's feeling a bit like a whipped pup after all this bad press he managed to drum up in NY and then of course his bum boy having to shed tears after the weiredest of all talking points came off the rails. Keep on Mr Harper, drive those polls completely into the dirt.

[Smallc]

I don't know how to break this to you...but no one cares about any of those things...those things won't sink Harper...focusing on those things just might keep him from sinking.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Smallc

[cybercoma]

The government making a joke out of Question Period will stick far more than the flight. Especially when a few backbenchers broke rank and voted against thei caucus mates.