Lise Thibault

[August1991]

I'll admit to being offended by such stories.

Quebec's Lieutenant-Governor is under pressure to justify her travel and entertainment expenses, including a case in which her office refused to release the names of restaurant guests who had dined on the public dime.

The criticism stemmed from the release this week by the Department of Canadian Heritage of 2,000 pages of Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault's expenses.

Government records show that Ms. Thibault, who became the Queen's representative in Quebec in 1997, held a $59,000 garden party in 2003 that broke her budget for out-of-town expenses for the year.

The office also held a $30,000 Christmas party in 2001 for 67 guests, at a cost of $445 a person. The party included costs of $14,000 for food at the Sheraton in Montreal, $6,000 in gifts, $720 to hire three chefs and free parking for guests.

G & M

Les gouvernements de Jean Charest et de Stephen Harper ont refusé net, vendredi, de se porter à la défense de la lieutenante-gouverneure du Québec, Lise Thibault, dont les dépenses ont soulevé des questions chez les fonctionnaires fédéraux.

«C'est à madame la lieutenant-gouverneur d'expliquer certaines décisions de dépenses qu'elle aurait décidé de faire», a lâché le premier ministre Charest en conférence de presse à Montréal, en marge d'une annonce de la firme Ubisoft.

La Presse

I guess Chretien named her but frankly I have absolutely no sympathy for what the media dogs do to her reputation.

Been there, done that. I walked away, refusing even the t-shirt.

[geoffrey]

Been there, done that. I walked away, refusing even the t-shirt.

You were a Lieutenant-Governor?

[Bakunin]

Hmmm, if i was PM, id refuse to pay and she would be forced to bankrupt... thats what she deserve for having no respect for the taxpayers...

But can we blame her ? after all she is the perfect fit for this job, she showed us what monarchy is all about!

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear August1991,

Government records show that Ms. Thibault, who became the Queen's representative in Quebec in 1997, held a $59,000 garden party in 2003 that broke her budget for out-of-town expenses for the year.

The sad part is, had she been slightly 'under-budget', I bet no one would have said a thing.

[g_bambino]

Government records show that Ms. Thibault, who became the Queen's representative in Quebec in 1997, held a $59,000 garden party in 2003 that broke her budget for out-of-town expenses for the year.

Strangely, the article doesn't mention how many people attended this function. It's also blatantly misleading as Thibault's out-of-town expenses are only a small part of her budget that have nothing to do with garden parties. Basicly, in 2003-04 she got $198,270 from the feds ($104,300 as a salary (taxed), $45,600 for in-capital-city expenses, and $48,370 for out-of-capital-city expenses), and then another $1,079,000 from the province. So, her total budget was $1,277,270 - a number approved by both the federal and provincial parliaments. The woman didn't go over-budget on anything.

The office also held a $30,000 Christmas party in 2001 for 67 guests, at a cost of $445 a person. The party included costs of $14,000 for food at the Sheraton in Montreal, $6,000 in gifts, $720 to hire three chefs and free parking for guests.

As one of only two LG's without an official residence, and not even a proper office suite, she has to entertain at hotels, which are invariably more expensive. And even so, what is this amount compared to what the Quebec government spends on hospitality?

Les gouvernements de Jean Charest et de Stephen Harper ont refusé net, vendredi, de se porter à la défense de la lieutenante-gouverneure du Québec, Lise Thibault, dont les dépenses ont soulevé des questions chez les fonctionnaires fédéraux.

«C'est à madame la lieutenant-gouverneur d'expliquer certaines décisions de dépenses qu'elle aurait décidé de faire», a lâché le premier ministre Charest en conférence de presse à Montréal, en marge d'une annonce de la firme Ubisoft.

It's regrettable that the federal PM and Thibault's prime minister won't defend her budget (seeing as they allowed it), but Charest is right in a sense about how she spends the money she's given - once it's budgeted, its hers to spend on her duties as her office sees fit.

I have absolutely no sympathy for what the media dogs do to her reputation.

I doubt they'll do much. The woman's been a force that transcends politics and division, and has done a great deal of good on a budget that's tiny compared to those of the politicians who are now bleating. I'm all for budgetary supervision, but this is just another stupid attempt to use the Crown as a political football; a pathetic diversion away from the vast amounts of our money politicians spend to support their own self-serving political ambitions.

[beatenwoman2005]

This story is amazing ... and some of you that are defending it, when there is far more worthy causes for this money to be spent in other areas within CANADA.

WHAT DEFINES us as CANDIANS? Let's see.... it is not HOTELS, GARDEN PARTIES, it is these things-

We have polar bears, why not take GUEST in CANADA on a TOUR of CHURCH HILL TO Stimulate the economy and development of this HISTORICAL remote region? I am sure the hotels there will not cost a fortune.

Baseball is Canadian

Lacrosse is Canadian

Hockey is Canadian

Basketball is Canadian

Apple pie is Canadian

Mr. Dress-up

Tim Hortons

In the war of 1812, started by America, Canadians pushed the Americans back...past their 'White House'. Then we burned it...and most of Washington, under the command of William Lyon McKenzie who was insane and hammered all the time. We got bored because they ran away, so we came home and partied… Go figure.

We ALL have frozen our tongues to something metal and lived to tell about it.

Canada has the largest French population that never surrendered to

Germany.

Handles on our beer cases are big enough to fit your hands with mitts on.

We have the largest English population that never ever surrendered or withdrew during any war to anyone, anywhere.

Our civil war was a bar fight that lasted a little over an hour.

The only person who was arrested in our civil war was an American mercenary, who slept in and missed the whole thing... but showed up just in time to get caught.

We knew plaid was cool far before USA.

A Canadian invented Superman

The Hudson Bay Company once owned over 10% of the earth's surface and is still around as the world’s oldest company.

Dog sled teams can kill and devour a full grown human in less than 3 minutes.

We still know what to do with all the parts of a buffalo.

Canadians invented ski-doos, jet-skis, Velcro, zippers, insulin, penicillin, zambonis, the telephone and short wave radios that save countless lives each year.

Our elections only take one day, even if there is hanky-panky.

MY thought's on Queens' Rep- Get a case of beer, host the party's in an Igloo in the WINTER for the TRUE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE... Buy all the guests a Toque, Provide the With Tim Bits coffee and donuts (a Continental breakfast). Drive them around looking at the Tundra in an Ice Machine. Have them experience

What it is really like to be CANADIAN in Wintertime.....oh yea and BACK BACON for breakfast with MAPLE Syrup.

Canada in the summer time is not about "GARDEN PARTIES" it is about planting, growing tending, seeding, Harvesting...... Have them try the wonderful fresh produce of Canada's prairies, then perhaps the traditional small family FARM will have a chance to grow again. Have them try our BEER for a COCKTAIL instead of some 600.00 bottle of wine..... in higher end pubs a beer goes for over 6.00/ bottle (OMFG). Have Hudson's bay craft something that is commemorative of a visit to Canada for the ELITE.

Use your imagination, we as Canadians have survived through things and started from the ground up, ask any person who has moved here from another land..... WE ARE DIVERSE in cultures, this is something that several people should be hosting as a rep for the QUEEN... NOT GARDEN PARTIES that is not who we all are as CANADIANS.

Give me a break .... Wake up, and be earth BOUND people.... the majority of us in Canada are earth bound and some want to JUSTIFY elaborate GARDEN PARTIES? good grief...

[g_bambino]

MY thought's on Queens' Rep- Get a case of beer, host the party's in an Igloo in the WINTER for the TRUE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE...

While your proposal to host a state affair in an igloo is intriguing, I have to say that I doubt those who attend garden parties thrown by our vice-regals think they're un-Canadian. As you said, we're a diverse people, and within that diversity are those who prefer the more gentil aspects of life over the rough.

You'd probably be pleased to know, however, that our Governor General did pay a visit to Nunavut, drove a snowmobile and spent a night in an igloo. The Crown isn't all about stuffy crumpet and watercress sandwich socials.

[guyser]

WHAT DEFINES us as CANDIANS? Let's see.... it is not HOTELS, GARDEN PARTIES, it is these things-

We have polar bears, why not take GUEST in CANADA on a TOUR of CHURCH HILL TO Stimulate the economy and development of this HISTORICAL remote region? I am sure the hotels there will not cost a fortune.

Baseball is Canadian -NOPE

Lacrosse is Canadian

Hockey is Canadian

Basketball is Canadian-INVENTED BY , BUT IN THE USA

Apple pie is Canadian-NOPE

Mr. Dress-up -WAS AN AMERICAN LIVING IN CDA

Tim Hortons

In the war of 1812, started by America, Canadians pushed the Americans back...past their 'White House'. Then we burned it...and most of Washington, under the command of William Lyon McKenzie who was insane and hammered all the time. We got bored because they ran away, so we came home and partied… Go figure.-NOT TRUE

We ALL have frozen our tongues to something metal and lived to tell about it.

Canada has the largest French population that never surrendered to

Germany.

Handles on our beer cases are big enough to fit your hands with mitts on.

A Canadian invented Superman-NOT ENTIRELY

The Hudson Bay Company once owned over 10% of the earth's surface and is still around as the world’s oldest company.

Canadians invented ski-doos, jet-skis, Velcro, zippers, insulin, penicillin, zambonis, the telephone and short wave radios that save countless lives each year.

Our elections only take one day, even if there is hanky-panky.

No need to yell.

I see you got that bogus email that was flying around for ever and ever.

Allow me to say, Zamboni- invented in California

Velcro-unless Switzerland is part of Canada then no it wasnt invented here.The other corrections are in your quoted words.

Be nice if it were true, but sadly it is not.

[August1991]

The woman's been a force that transcends politics and division, and has done a great deal of good on a budget that's tiny compared to those of the politicians who are now bleating. I'm all for budgetary supervision, but this is just another stupid attempt to use the Crown as a political football; a pathetic diversion away from the vast amounts of our money politicians spend to support their own self-serving political ambitions.

It is your beloved Crown that transcends politics - not the person who wears it. (Do you remember Edward VIII?)

From what I understand, Lise Thibault uses a wheelchair and Chretien appointed her because he thought she'd be impervious to criticsm. Apparently, she's not.

Spin this as you want but it is offensive that this woman spent over $1 million in one year. There are many, many people in Quebec who would do a better job for much less.

As one of only two LG's without an official residence, and not even a proper office suite, she has to entertain at hotels, which are invariably more expensive.

I didn't know this. Who is the other one? Please don't tell me that the LG of PEI (population 120,000) lives in a big house at federal government expense.

[g_bambino]

It is your beloved Crown that transcends politics - not the person who wears it. (Do you remember Edward VIII?)

Of course. But the wearer of the Crown should remove themselves from politics as much as the institution they occupy is. However, there's a difference between politics and criticism. Though Thibault has managed to avoid both through a decade of service, it seems criticism has caught up with her, but only because the politicians have decided to play politics with her, and her office included. People are entitled to criticise spending, but in this case nobody seems to want to acknowledge the fact that Thibault's million dollars is alloted to her by the federal and provincial parliaments - ie. responsibility for what she spends lies with the politicians who are complaining about how much she spends. Worse, they're doing it without even being fully clear about what the money was spent on, or why it might cost so much - it does make a difference how many people she's entertaining or where she has to hold the functions.

Spin this as you want but it is offensive that this woman spent over $1 million in one year. There are many, many people in Quebec who would do a better job for much less.

Fine, but direct your resentment towards the federal and Quebec government, not Thibault herself. She didn't appoint herself, nor did she decide her own budget.]

As one of only two LG's without an official residence, and not even a proper office suite, she has to entertain at hotels, which are invariably more expensive.

I didn't know this. Who is the other one? Please don't tell me that the LG of PEI (population 120,000) lives in a big house at federal government expense.

The LG of Ontario is the other one - no residence, but he does have a two-story suite in the legislative building with sufficient space for entertaining, ceremonies, meetings etc. The LG of Quebec gets an office in the André-Laurendeau building in Quebec City. As for PEI - yes, there's an official residence, the maintenance of which is covered by the province. I forgot earlier that the LG of Saskatchewan has an office and entertains at Government House but lives in a rented condo.