Monday, September 03, 2007

Those strange Tories - respecting taxpayers' money!

From the Winnipeg Sun - Who has the cheaper government? (H/T Bourque)


It seems that the current Federal Government is not as free with the taxpayers' money as it should be. At least that would seem to be the case according to Liberal strategist Susan Smith:


"I find it hard to believe they're being chained to their desks," said Smith. "If that's the case, we should also be concerned they're not out talking to people."


(And not wining and dining them.)




Tories

Not wasting your money.

In Canada.

Be afraid. Be very afraid!




* * * *
Tuesday Update: SDA - Because Paying For Your Own Lunch Isn't A Concept That Occurs Naturally To A Liberal.


14 comments:

Burton, Formerly Kingston said...

Actually what I thought was a real hoot was when they tried to slam them for having higher travel costs and the reply was it's because we are traveling on commercial airliners vice using the DND fleet all the time because the commercial airliners are cheaper in most cases. Since the travel costs for the Govt fleet are hardly ever calculated into the travel costs except thru freedom of information request it would seem the CPC are trying to do business cheaper.

Eric said...

The Liberals on this issue are so beat that they have to rely on the 'scary hidden agenda' trick.

Ah, its amusing at least. I guess some people just don't get how you can serve a dinner for less than $20/plate..

Anonymous said...

Sheesh. The Conservative staffers probably pay for their own lunch, non business dinners and coffee break snacks out of their own pockets just like the rest of us working stiffs.

Why the assumption that the taxpayer should pick up the tab for all meals? Is one to also assume that if they go out for a meal with a government employee the taxpayer should always pick up the tab on the expence account?

Not bloody likely im most businesses.

If there is an out of town meeting I can see a per diem but otherwise people pay their own way don't they?

Or, was that just the usual Liberal way?

Candace said...

I seem to recall that MPs enjoy a $75/day per diem for time spent in Ottawa. Surely to God one can breakfast, lunch and dine on that without too much of a trauma?

One would think you could even pocket a bit of it, if you can grab a hotdog (without a fork) for $5 or so...

The only reason this is "news" is because it's such a change from what we're used to. (Not necessarily a bad thing, mind you.)

Red Tory said...

I love the skinflint mentality. Missing the forest for the trees much...

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Kingston, thanks for that info. I found a related link.

Anonymous said...

That's only part of the story - the Tories are BIG spenders when it comes to using the Challenger and I chuckle because Harper used to condemn the Liberals for using the Challenger and costs, etc.

Uh huh - Ralph Goodale $33,000 - Jim Flaherty $122,000. Hmmm... looks like it would be cheaper to pay for something other than junk food meals than "4 X's" as much for the use of the Challenger, which would have gourmet meals on the plane I'm sure.

The Tory MP's desparately need to eat salad or something - take a look at the Tory caucus - it's like a Weight Watchers meeting.

Jeff said...

In a case that conjures images of rationing, Harper's communications director Sandra Buckler spent just $7 on refreshments for a meeting of 35 people. - winnipeg sun

pure optics. the last budget was hardly an exercise in restraint. further, the CPC spend like drunken sailors when it comes to attack ads and election readiness-centres.

however, when the govt of the people entertains, they put the money away. this only serves to re-enforce a view that harper's a mean-spirited prick.

the list of fast foods that conservatives dine on sets an excellent example. we're too damned busy to be bothered to look after ourselves. instead, we suck back whatever grease soaked piece of crap our wheezing mouths can bear down upon.

ps...i'm willing to bet that maxime bernier has better sense than to eat at the swiss chalet.

baird, van loan, del maestro etc.. no big surprise.

Anonymous said...

Someone else may be picking up the rest of the tab. Besides, Buckler and Olsen don't really talk to the Press, so why should they be spending anything.

paulsstuff said...

"pure optics. the last budget was hardly an exercise in restraint. further, the CPC spend like drunken sailors when it comes to attack ads and election readiness-centres."

Wow,brilliant post Jeff.You do realize the ads and election centre comes from party funds,not the federal treasury?Perhaps you just made that assumption do to the fact the Liberal's used scammed funds for their election ads and campaign centres.

"the list of fast foods that conservatives dine on sets an excellent example. we're too damned busy to be bothered to look after ourselves. instead, we suck back whatever grease soaked piece of crap our wheezing mouths can bear down upon."

Again,another brilliant comment.Yes,the Conservatives like the fast food,but when they order a pizza it doesn't cost a couple hundred of taxpayer funds(Volpe Jeff?). And hey,how much did the food and drinks cost again for Dion's attempt at fundraisng to pay off the leaders debts?

And perhaps their costs are lower when they pay out of their own pocket for the same things you and I pay for, you know,things like gum.

"In a case that conjures images of rationing, Harper's communications director Sandra Buckler spent just $7 on refreshments for a meeting of 35 people. - winnipeg sun"

Sounds reasonable.Ever heard of juice or pop Jeff?36 bottles of water,$3.00,24 cans of pop,$4.00.Jeff's pathetic attempts to slur the facts,priceless.

paulsstuff said...

When Finance Minister Ralph Goodale takes a luxury jet from Ottawa to Regina, that one flight costs the
Canadian taxpayer more than Conservative Member of Parliament Brad Trost’s total travel expenses for the
entire year. On January 29, 2005, a Challenger jet flew Goodale (by himself) to Regina before returning to
Ottawa empty. Cost to the Canadian taxpayer: $67,100. “When Mr.
Goodale decides to jump on the Challenger and scoot home to Regina,
each trip costs more than my entire office’s travel in 2004-2005,
including my travel allowance and a few trips made by family and staff,”
said Trost, MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt. MP Brad Trost’s total travel
expenses for 2004-2005 were: $66,577. “When it costs $11,000 an hour
to whisk Liberal Cabinet ministers around the country by Challenger jet,
it is no wonder Goodale won’t give Canadians a break by reducing gas
taxes. He can’t afford to,” Trost added.
♦ April 30th, 2004 – Goodale took the Challenger alone from Ottawa to Regina and the Challenger returned
empty. At $11,000 per hour, this ride home for Goodale cost Canadians $67,100.
♦ August 9th, 2004 – Empty Challenger flies to Regina to pick up Goodale and his wife and fly them back to
Ottawa. Cost to Canadians: $67,100.
♦ October 22nd, 2004 – Challenger flies Goodale from Ottawa to Saskatoon and then from Saskatoon home
to Regina before returning to Ottawa empty.
♦ January 26th, 2005 – Challenger flies Goodale and four staff to Regina from Saint John before returning to
Ottawa empty.
♦ January 29th, 2005 – Challenger flies Goodale (by himself) to Regina before returning to Ottawa empty.
Cost to Canadians: $67,100.
♦ And how to explain his trip from Ottawa to Ottawa?: January 18th, 2004 – Goodale and his staff
leave Ottawa, fly for half-an-hour, then land in Ottawa. This trip would have cost Canadians $6,416

Anonymous said...

TangoJuliette sez:

None of this is a "hard news" story -- more of a Lib attack piece.

"...according to Liberal strategist Susan Smith:

'I find it hard to believe they're being chained to their desks,' said Smith. 'If that's the case, we should also be concerned they're not out talking to people.'..."

Maybe THEY Are chained to their desks. maybe they're deprived of 'excrement-concealment' break times. Was that the Paul Martin / Jean Chretien Technique?

Maybe these conservative philistines have even discovered smoke signals, semaphore, morse code, typewriters, moveable type, lithography, offset printing,the telephone, micro-fiche, the fax, e-mail, the blackberry. Waddaya think Suize Smith?? Could they have found new ways to talk to people without leaving the aoffice and without it all having to take place over $90 bottles of wine and a $250 Soprano Pizza? On the taxpayer's tab?

OR: try this for spin on Suzie's quote [which, I'll grant, may well have become text out of context - but still...]:

"Those conservatives! Really!! They're not pork-barrelling the way we used to. I find it hard to believe that they use rusty shears to trim their toenails," said Smith.

"If that's the case, we should all be concerned that they're not out there stalking Merinho sheep."

As for what they eat, and where, Swiss Chalet, haighly innovative and extremely successful wholly Canadian-owned, predominantly unionized, full service restaurant, would only be sneered at by some red-necked, grossly uninformed, pseudo-"progressive" liberal hoodwinking, lick-spittle.

Swiss Chalet is a tax-paying corporation, and a member of the CARA group of companies. Cara employs approximately 150,000 to 200,000 Canadians. You know how to spot voters Jeffie. Well done.

You're right, it ain't the Ritz. And it ain't Volpe's over-priced ethnic cafe.

To recognize and understand THAT difference is to understand that this difference is the embodiment of the Conservative sense of "entitlement" and their responsible approach to their steqardship of Canada's tax dollars.

So yup! Hate them all you want. Slam them as hard as you think you can. Bite.Kick. Scratch. Gouge. Even try fighting dirty.

But your pathetic attempts to make fun of a major Canadian employer shall still continue to truly reek of elitist Liberalism at its most conspicuous and arrogant.

And --Jerff D.? Your demonstrated abject ignorance of items culinary -- healthy, wealthy or otherwise, fits right in with the nature of your less than lucid babblings and cluster brain farts.

More fiber in your diet Jeff!More regularity in your placing of puffin poop droppings. Maybe your eyes might eventually prove to be blue, after all.

In light of the forgoing -- I hate to be the one to break this news to to you dorksters!

It is STILL Canada's New Government, my liddle Puffin-pals. My wee demented Puffinators.

I'm loving this,

with luv to all,

tj

typos errors & omissions excepted

Anonymous said...

Because Paying For Your Own Lunch Isn't A Concept That Occurs Naturally To A Liberal.

I just bought my own lunch and paid for it, as usual.


Yes, we spent $8 BILLION on military aircraft without bothering to tender it, no money left on the table there, but look here, we just saved you a nice shiny new loonie!

Anonymous said...

TangoJuliette sez:

to Lib supporter 2:25. If your clowns hadn't gutted the military, scrapped to helicopters, [which, btw, are usually immune to ied's]then sent them to a desert war zone in jungle cammo, we might not have had to be blowing the big money on untendered contracts. But it is a war, and wartime procurement doesn't follow the regular rules, according to rules the libs implemented during WWII, when they had $1 per year folks working for the country.

Now. THOSE were the days, my little Puffin beaked boffins.


tj