Tuesday August 31, 2010

The federal government has just reached an agreement to pay AbitibiBowater over $130 million to settle NAFTA-related disputes. Canadian taxpayers are now on the hook for this tab, without having seen any real benefit. Ouch!

Wednesday August 25, 2010

Expenses claimed by the Canadian Human Rights Commission have grown from approx. $2200 in 2004 to over $124,500 today. Taxpayer, of course, fooat the bill for these escalating expenses. Ouch!

Thursday August 19, 2010

Ontarians have been subject to repeated rate hikes for electricity over the past two years - yet, the Smart Meter's have particularly bothered citizens. It turns out that the province has paid $89 million to set up the system, and is on the hook for millions more every year to maintain the system. Citizens are questioning the value of the program - and the province has not answered. Ouch!

Thursday August 12, 2010

250 illegal refugees aboard the ship Sun Sea are expected to be brought into Victoria Harbour today for processing. Canada has become a target for illegal refugees in recent years. Cumulatively, these 250 people will cost Canadian taxpayers more than $35,000/day while imprisoned. It may be several months before they are processed, meaning that regardless of the outcome taxpayers will likely be on the hook for millions of dollars.

Tuesday August 10, 2010

BC Premier Gordon Campbell has avoided answering questions about his mysterious, taxpayer-funded trip to Spain this summer. In June, Campbell attended the Bilderberg conference - an invitation-only affair for the world's movers and shakers. With airfare alone totaling more than $6,000, taxpayers certainly have a right to be curious...Ouch!

Wednesday August 4, 2010

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has a full-time car and driver of course - but just how many other government officials have this perk? At least 36 MP's have a full-time chauffeur, yet many more unelected officials are also afforded this treatment. The annual cost of our MP's luxury? Six million taxpayer dollars - Ouch!

Tuesday August 3, 2010

Stewarship Ontario, the agency set up to adminster Ontario's disatrous eco-fee program, was meant to be an 'arm's length' organization. It turns out it was staffed by prominent Liberals, and even employed some consultants who were ousted from Sarah Kramer's failed eHealth administration, including her $25,000 speech writer. Ouch!