Harper's Tories spend like taxes are their own personal money.

[hiti]

Steve is going to have to move out of his glass house because every piece of mud he has hurled at Liberals has boomeranged and is sticking to him and his crew.

Check out the government ministry web site and see what your sweat earned loonies are buying

Turncoat floor-crosser David Emerson spent $10,000 to fly to Geneva. He also brought along his parliamentary secretary, Helena Guergis, who expensed $5187.16 in air fare. Also along for the Swiss trip was policy advisor Paul Benoit, who was downright frugal by comparison, incurring just $1860.39 in airfare. David brought along his spinner, Robert Klager, his director of communications, at $5218.18 in air fare. Two MPs and two staffers on a trip to Geneva spending $22,666.58 in air fare alone. That’s an average of $5666.65/person.

Wait there's more....also going to the same Geneva WTO conference was a large contingent from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (air fare in brackets), including Minister Chuckie Strahl ($7,226.86), parliamentary secretary David Anderson ($7314.11), parliamentary secretary Jacques Gourde ($6690.03), policy advisor Christine Bakke ($5438.29), communications director Conrad Bellehumeur ($6109.03) and senior policy advisor Christina Patterson ($5298.29). Their filings also included a side trip to Newfoundland (for agriculture, I'm sure). So a six person contingent from this ministry for a total of $38,076.61, or an average of $6346.10/person.

All told, that's a contingent of 10 politicos (five MPs, five political staffers) attending one conference at a cost of $60,743.19 just for air fare, an average of $6074.32.

Check Travel Web Sites:

*Air Canada (economy) $984.15

*Air Canada (executive) $3973.53

*Continental (economy) $978.98

*British Airways (economy) $2104.84

If they'd taken the Air Canada economy option the bill would have been closer to $9841.50 for all ten people, saving the taxpayers some $50,901.69.

So what did they accomplish? In their own words.

And what did they accomplish? Read for yourself:

Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said he was disappointed that the issue didn't get off the ground in Geneva. "There were no negotiations at all, that's the sad part, the sad truth,'' Strahl said Saturday in a teleconference call from the Swiss city.

Trade Minister David Emerson also expressed his dismay. "While WTO members have worked hard to reach an agreement, the gaps among members' negotiating positions proved to be too great to bridge during this meeting,'' Emerson said in a statement.

Not to be outdone, Steve had to rack up his own useless waste of taxpayers sweat earned loonies.

Taxpayers get fuzzy PM speech for their money

A trip to Vancouver to repeat pledges cost $75,000, documents show

Peter O'Neil, Vancouver Sun

Published: Friday, December 29, 2006

What does $75,000 of taxpayer dollars get you these days? Apparently a few recycled Stephen Harper platitudes and a lot of hot air. According to a Vancouver Sun investigation, some $75,000 of your taxpayer dollars. Plus Challenger Jet expenses of $9,174/hour.

Yup this "new" government has collected every piece of mud they have thrown at the Liberals and are proudly wearing it in their glass houses.

[Catchme]

Thanks for this heads up hiti, I remember when they were screaming about the costs of the GG's trip to Russia, and Chretien's SUV convoys, amongst other trips.

[margrace]

I'll bet there will be some quick changes to disclosure rules.

[madmax]

I am surprised that anyone is surprised by any of this. I remember the Harris Conservatives, smaller government, but these guys abused expense accounts like any other fat cat.

Perhaps you were expecting more from the CPC. Maybe you thought they weren't human.

But really, who's gonna do it differently. Not the Liberals.

These guys abuse and take advantage of the system.

Do you know a better way?

[Argus]

Thanks for this heads up hiti, I remember when they were screaming about the costs of the GG's trip to Russia, and Chretien's SUV convoys, amongst other trips.

I don't believe anyone has ever complained - until now - about the travel expenses of government ministers and staff to attend to their duties. I'm quite certain such things never concerned any of you before either.

But these are Tories, and your bitterness and hatred causes you to do a rethink. Suddenly, you're outraged that they're not rowing across the Atlantic to attend WTO conferences.

You get back to us when the Tories are flying to the Bahamas on pointless "fact finding" expeditions which take two weeks in the middle of winter - as the Liberals were notorious for doing.

Btw, the GG's "russia trip" was a jaunt to see the northern lights for her and some of her liberal chattering class friends, and served no other purpose. And I believe it cost over five million dollars. And I'm guessing not one of you made a peep of complaint. As for Chretien, he traveled all over the world, particularly in winter, on thinly disguised holidays with little work done. And again, I'm guessing none of you gave a damn.

[jbg]

You get back to us when the Tories are flying to the Bahamas on pointless "fact finding" expeditions which take two weeks in the middle of winter - as the Liberals were notorious for doing.

Harper haters will always hate Harper.

[jdobbin]

Harper haters will always hate Harper.

And Harper lovers will always love him? Is that the point you wanted to make?

[Argus]

Harper haters will always hate Harper.

And Harper lovers will always love him? Is that the point you wanted to make?

I don't think Harper has the necessary charisma to have dedicated, die hard defenders.

But he has the necessary element to draw hatred from the Left: he's a conservative.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I don't think Harper has the necessary charisma to have dedicated, die hard defenders.

But he has the necessary element to draw hatred from the Left: he's a conservative.

I don't know if it is a matter of charisma.

Conservatives by nature are more concerned about fiscal matters. That's why we tend to look at things like this more objectively than the shrill left.

When something like this is treated as such a crime by hiti and his fellow Harper-haters you just have to shake your head...

Again the terrible analogy between a minister doing his job and the GGs frivoulous jaunts.

Can't these guys come up with anything of substance to whine about.

[jdobbin]

I don't think Harper has the necessary charisma to have dedicated, die hard defenders.

We see some of those people here who love him most certainly.

There are a few more people who have measured responses while remaining supporters but the few that cheerlead uncritically certainly would be characterized as Harper lovers.

[sharkman]

I don't think Harper has the necessary charisma to have dedicated, die hard defenders.

We see some of those people here who love him most certainly.

There are a few more people who have measured responses while remaining supporters but the few that cheerlead uncritically certainly would be characterized as Harper lovers.

Blah, blah, blah...

Tell you what, when anyone can come up with some REAL money waste, let me know. I guess the Tories must be doing pretty good in this department if this is the worst that can be dug up about them.

BTW, where exactly did you find those numbers on that page you linked? I could find no such information. It's odd that Hiti didn't include their accomodation expenses.

[jdobbin]

Blah, blah, blah...

I rest my case.

[sharkman]

Rest anything you like, it's not wasteful and you should know this.

How about show me the money, somebody. Show me where Liberals went on a trip to Europe and spent less than this.

[geoffrey]

MP's are the senior executives of their deparment, it's EXTREMELY common practice for managers and above in private sector to fly executive class. This isn't out of step with private sector behavoir.

People that complain about such things are out of touch with the reality of the business world.

Do you expect Emerson to take a pay cut, sit in a crammed seat for 12 hours and eat at McDonald's his whole trip? How the hell do you expect to attract the best and the brightest when you treat them like that?

Government ministers, parliamentary secretaries, deputy ministers, senior department managers.... I've got no problem with them at all flying exec class, having $50/each dinners (plus drinks), staying in $400/night hotels. It's perks like that that keep our top talent around. Having them stay at the Travelodge and eat at Denny's in the morning is certainly going to push them back towards the private sector where they get a little more respect.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Rest anything you like, it's not wasteful and you should know this.

How about show me the money, somebody. Show me where Liberals went on a trip to Europe and spent less than this.

Sharkamn, you are wasting your breathe. (typing effort?)

Some posters here are attacking over and over about petty little things due to personal issues more than anything else.

Anger about the Liberals losing their rightful place? Anger that the NDP will never win government? Anger because they had candy stolen from them as a child?

Best to let that anger stew and fester. No real debate there.

I *guarantee* nobody will show you a more frugal trip by the Liberals.

The interesting thing about these angry leftists is they aren't accomplishing anything with their attacks. All of these supposed Conservative malfeasances simply serve to illustrate how much more honest and competent the Government of Stephen Harper is vis-a-vis Paul Martin...

[Shakeyhands]

whether anyone can show a trip done cheaper by the Liberals is irrelevant. The point here is that the CPC 'prides' its self on frugality no? Smaller Government, friscal responsibility... is this not what the point is?

[Ricki Bobbi]

whether anyone can show a trip done cheaper by the Liberals is irrelevant. The point here is that the CPC 'prides' its self on frugality no? Smaller Government, friscal responsibility... is this not what the point is?

Fiscal responsibility implies using taxpayer dollars as frugally as possible within reason.

That's what the Conservatives have been doing.

Don't know what friscal responsiblity is.

[Catchme]

Thanks for this heads up hiti, I remember when they were screaming about the costs of the GG's trip to Russia, and Chretien's SUV convoys, amongst other trips.

I don't believe anyone has ever complained - until now - about the travel expenses of government ministers and staff to attend to their duties. I'm quite certain such things never concerned any of you before either.

Of course they have, and of course we have. There were many such debates in the Canadian forum world when the Liberals were government and evidence is given by your response at the end knowing exactly how much the GG's trip to Russia cost and what Chretien was up to.

But these are Tories, and your bitterness and hatred causes you to do a rethink. Suddenly, you're outraged that they're not rowing across the Atlantic to attend WTO conferences.

Please do not ascribe your emotional state upon others. Plus it is not the topic here.

You get back to us when the Tories are flying to the Bahamas on pointless "fact finding" expeditions which take two weeks in the middle of winter - as the Liberals were notorious for doing.

We just did apparently get back to you on an expensive pointless fact finding expedition.The location matters not.

Btw, the GG's "russia trip" was a jaunt to see the northern lights for her and some of her liberal chattering class friends, and served no other purpose. And I believe it cost over five million dollars. And I'm guessing not one of you made a peep of complaint. As for Chretien, he traveled all over the world, particularly in winter, on thinly disguised holidays with little work done. And again, I'm guessing none of you gave a damn.

You now call the CPC doing the same thing doing their duties and jobs. Why is it them doing the job and the Liberals doing the same thing something else?

[Slavik44]

I don't see why this has to be a partisan issue...when political parties overspend it is a waste of every ones money, demanding some level of accountability in public expendatures shouldn't be a partisan based issue, it should simply be an issue in the best interests of the Canadian tax payer.

If Paul Benoit Can get to switzerland on $1,800...would emerson be able to do it on $3,000? Basically we are looking at a cost of $6,000 per person. Clearly even in that group of people we have evidence that it can be done much cheaper. Yes, they were there to do a job, but a part of their job should be wisely spending Canadians money. Did the Liberals do a good job of it, NO. but I think it is fair to say one persons extravagent spending of anothers money is not justification for other people to do it, even if it is slightly less extravegant. It is instead justification to ask people to be more responsible.

[Fortunata]

Everything that Steve and his merry band do is justifiable to the apologists by the excuse "the Liberals." If the Liberals were doing the same thing they would scream their heads off. Doing wrong to a lesser degree is still doing wrong. You will always find worse if you look for it; people use that as an excuse in all things instead of being accountable for their own behaviours. What's wrong, what's excess, what's hypocrisy is still all those things no matter to what degree the actions are perpetrated.

[Ricki Bobbi]

If the Liberals were doing the same thing they would scream their heads off. Doing wrong to a lesser degree is still doing wrong.

Who is screaming? Examples of the screaming?

What is an appropriate level for a minister of the state to travel at?

There was no wrong committed by Guergis and Emerson.

It was a reasonable expense.

[Catchme]

I don't see why this has to be a partisan issue...when political parties overspend it is a waste of every ones money, demanding some level of accountability in public expendatures shouldn't be a partisan based issue, it should simply be an issue in the best interests of the Canadian tax payer.

If Paul Benoit Can get to switzerland on $1,800...would emerson be able to do it on $3,000? Basically we are looking at a cost of $6,000 per person. Clearly even in that group of people we have evidence that it can be done much cheaper. Yes, they were there to do a job, but a part of their job should be wisely spending Canadians money. Did the Liberals do a good job of it, NO. but I think it is fair to say one persons extravagent spending of anothers money is not justification for other people to do it, even if it is slightly less extravegant. It is instead justification to ask people to be more responsible.

Me either, again CPC=LIBERAL.

The exampled differences in costs associated, and others saving more, show that all efforts to keep expenses down were not utilized.

[Saturn]

MP's are the senior executives of their deparment, it's EXTREMELY common practice for managers and above in private sector to fly executive class. This isn't out of step with private sector behavoir.

People that complain about such things are out of touch with the reality of the business world.

People complain about a lot of things in government that would be perfectly acceptable in the business world. What was out of step here is that Harper was elected on promises of spending wisely and flying to Vancouver with his 120-seater jet to reiterate (for the 10th time) a promise that a plan on the environment will be coming in the near future seemed rather pathetic.

[Catchme]

People complain about a lot of things in government that would be perfectly acceptable in the business world. What was out of step here is that Harper was elected on promises of spending wisely and flying to Vancouver with his 120-seater jet to reiterate (for the 10th time) a promise that a plan on the environment will be coming in the near future seemed rather pathetic.

Yes, and it's not as if he carries a press/media junket around with him either. Maybe if he did he could support the cost of using a 120 seat airplane X 10 in the last 9 months. But of course he won't!

How many times to Calgary, or were there stopovers only?

[Saturn]

Note that that's the same jet Chretien purchased and the Conservatives were crying at the top of their lungs about at the time. Harper put himself, Rona and a bunch of journalists on it, few 5000 km to Vancouver for a 5 minute statement to say (yet again) that Rona will be making an announcement about the Conservative environmental plan the following week. Rona stood behind him and did not say a word. I cannot imagine what the value of this $200,000+ trip was to the taxpayer.