Government Spending

Wasted Money

So I did sum research on how our tax dollars have been “spent” throughout the years. I do realize that we won’t all agree on what is considered wasted money and what is considered justified money spent…but there are sum instances where I’d say it was almost unanimous as to what really constitutes a waste. So I selected some of my favourites…I’m sure there are hundreds if not thousands of other (even better examples) but 2 sift through everything out there would take me a lifetime….so I’ll leave the “wasting” 2 the experts.

So here is a sample of where ur money has gone…and the sad reality of it all is…we pay it out but have absolutely no say whatsoever as 2 how it is being spent…they call this a democracy…its ok…in 4 years I get 2 vote again on another Government body who is going 2 do…the exact same thing.

In no particular order here are 13 wasted ways of how our money gets spent…

#1 The place: Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton…the situation: Drops of oil fell from some light fixtures on2 sum fans during the World Athletic Competitions. The Lawsuit: Alberta Justice is suing the City of Edmonton for not reporting the spill immediately. The City of Edmonton is fighting the lawsuit. The Bottom Line: So here we have 2 levels of government fighting each other in our court system. The defence paid 4 by, you guessed it…YOU and ME…the taxpayer. The Prosecution’s set of lawyers being paid for by…that’s right…you and me…the taxpayer. Of course let’s not 4get the judge…security…and any1 else associated with the trial…total damage…undisclosed but estimated at around $400 000

#2 December 2004: Cost the Alberta Government spent on their pre-election campaign for Advertising: $864 102…enuff said

Ok let’s get to the good stuff

#3 April 2002…Federal Government implements 2.2 billion dollar Air Traveller’s Security Tax…aka The Flying tax…ya that’s right we’re getting taxed 4 flying the friendly skies…I always said if there was a way 2 tax air…they would do it…well guess what…that figured out a way.

#4 The Gun Registry by the Department of Justice costs Canadians $700 million dollars annually. This same system has completely lost track of almost 40 000 gun owners and has issued hundreds of duplicate licences with wrong pictures.

#5 Farm Credit Corporation changes its name to Farm Credit Canada at a cost of
$433 000…it is said to be the most expensive name change in Canadian history…ah at least my money got some value since it established a new record.

#6 RCMP commissioner Guiliano Zacca spends…get this…$1064 on ceremonial riding boots…$180 000 on executive office renovations, which included $30 000 on leather furniture and $42 000 on bathroom renovations. Glad you were comfortable while the single mom worked 2 jobs to help pay 4 all that.

#7 BC government spends 128 million dollars to widen the existing lanes on the bridge by 24 inches each…it’s ok, I’ll do the math 4 u…it’s about 1.7 million dollars per inch. No new lanes were added.

#8 19 Saskatchewan cabinet ministers flew almost 1431 times on government-owed aircraft and chartered planes. This comes out to 28 flights per week…cost for this per year (this being 4 years ago) 1.7 million dollars.

Speaking of flights…here’s a breakdown of what we pay for an airline ticket:

#9 A very common flight where I live…Montreal to Toronto…return flight (equivalent to say Los Angeles to Phoenix)

Cost of flight (going and coming): $254

as if that’s not enough…now let’s look at the surcharges

Fuel Surcharge Tax
Nav Canada Surcharge Tax
Insurance Surcharge Tax
Air Travellers Security Tax…you remember this 1…it’s the Flying Tax

Total $36

Airport Tax $30
Federal Tax $24.60
Security Surcharge Tax $9.35
Provincial Tax (where I live…Quebec…Tax on Tax) $26.99

Grand Total in Surcharges: $126.94 (basically half the price of the ticket…way 2 go guys)

#10 Ontario Ministry of Education spent 6 million dollars on television advertising and a 16-page colour booklet mailed to 4.4 million Ontario households promoting the government's education reforms.

I don’t know about you but an ad in the paper would’ve been sufficient

#11 Director General of Audits at Public Works and Government Services Norman Steinberg’s spent $174,581 to purchase of electronic gear, including a $19,000 plasma television, a $3,200 Sony VAIO Picture Book notebook computer, a $22,181 home entertainment unit, and $6,400 for furniture, including a comfy sofa.

#12 In October 2002, Queen Elizabeth II and Wayne Gretzky ceremonially dropped the puck at a Vancouver Canucks game. According to information released under British Columbia’s Access to Information law, here is how the bill broke down: $21,000 for catering; $11,000 to decorate the loading area; $1,000 for new wallpaper; $9,000 to rent a tent and red carpet; $13,000 for media services; and $7,800 for other costs, including ice cream for camera crews.

The Final 1 Goes to: Adrienne Clarkson (Governor General of Canada)




I got this 1 off a website call the Canadian Taxpayers Association (CTA). Rather than summarize it and put it in my own words…I’m just going to copy and paste it for the final Hum Dinger…coming in at Lucky #13

…Adrienne Clarkson for taking an office most Canadians respect and admire, and treating it with contempt,” said Williamson. “At a time when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has begun to pay taxes it is unseemly that the Representative of the Sovereign in Canada shrugs off legitimate inquiries into her spending habits by announcing she is ‘above politics.’”

Warning signs of Mme. Clarkson’s prolific spending came early in her tenure. On a visit to British Columbia’s capital in 1999, the Governor-General opted for the lavish Empress Hotel over Government House. The 102-room Government House has hosted members of the Royal Family, including the Queen who visited in 1994, yet it was not good enough for Mme. Clarkson.

Since 1995 the costs for operating the Governor-General’s office have doubled from $10-million to $20-million. On top of the $20-million, Mme. Clarkson’s office also receives an additional $15-million from other departments.

Included in these figures is $10-million from the National Capital Commission for “renovations.” In 2001, the NCC spent $2.6-million including $29,242 for a new dining room carpet, $55,171 on repainting, $32,000 on furniture repair, $7,787 on drapes and $40,300 on fabrics. Then there were costs associated with the gardens at Rideau Hall, including $77,290 for “landscape consultants.” Mme. Clarkson also spent $43,449 for a new rose garden, $9,318 for top soil, $63,000 for other shrubs, fruit trees and emerald cedars and $32,665 to install beech trees. Finally, Mme. Clarkson spent $1,299 on snowshoes and $378 for storage of her fur coats.

Of course, Mme. Clarkson will be best remembered for her three-week “Quest for the Modern North Tour” in the fall of 2003 to Russia, Finland and Iceland. The trip was taken despite the Governor-General having no foreign policy or foreign representative function as the Queen’s representative in Canada. With husband John Ralston Saul, 22 staff members, and 59 luminaries like Bob Rae and Michael Ondaatje, the junket was expected to cost $1-million. The final tab was $5.3-million.