The president of the United States flies in Air Force One, with a huge armed entourage. Multiple support aircraft, including giant C-5 Galaxies, which carry two presidential limos (the second being a decoy), untold support vehicles and the occasional helicopter (plus its decoys).
On a 2010 trip to London, President Obama had 35 vehicles in all, and over 500 staff, including 200 Secret Service agents.
In Canada, we're beginning to expect our politicians to fly economy.
The Globe and Mail reported on Nov. 26 that the federal government is looking at getting rid of four of its six Challenger VIP jets. These are the same jets that got General Walt Natynczyk, the former chief of defence staff, in trouble for taking one on a flight to the Caribbean. God forbid the man who is responsible for the Armed Forces of our nation actually have a military aircraft and its associated communications capabilities at his disposal.
So it's time for budget cutting, apparently. Excessive luxury. Way too frilly. Make them fly commercial.
At least that's what the critics of such supposed extravagances might say. Believe it or not, I'm not one of them.
There are times when you can be too cheap.
Let's not forget that these are Canadian-built executive aircraft, manned by Canadian Armed Forces crews. They are bought and paid for, and should be used.
The premier of Nova Scotia was recently harangued for flying first class on two trade missions to China. Opposition politicians said he should have flown economy instead.
Let's remember here, this is the chief executive officer of an entity with a $9.3 billion budget. His time is valuable. National Post columnist Jonathan Kay wrote, "Premier Dexter is the highest elected official of his province, heading to the biggest economic dynamo on the planet to try to drum up trade to ensure the future prosperity of Nova Scotia. With millions, or billions, on the line for his province, is it really a big deal that he would spend a few thousand dollars to ensure a relaxing flight, decent in-flight bathrooms and workspace, and the assurance that he will not greet his Chinese hosts with some fellow passenger's coffee and/or regurgitated baby food all over his clothes?"
When it comes to federal cabinet ministers, their budgets dwarf Dexter's. Should we be putting these people in economy too?
With all the kerfuffle about Bev Oda expensing a $16 glass of orange juice, did anyone think about the fact that as a representative of the government of Canada, you pay the bill when it arrives? Or maybe her handlers should have told her, "Sorry, you are only allowed to drink water." And don't even dream of a glass of wine with supper. Everyone else gets to ingest real food, but you, my dear, get bread and water.
The political climate today takes the attitude that politicians get and expect gold plated everything. So we say, "cut their gold plated pensions, and pay, and everything else."
In some cases, they may have gone too far. Did you know that the pay for an MLA in Manitoba is about the same as an experienced teacher - and much less than a nurse? When you count benefits, i.e. a pension plan, the MLAs actually receive a lot less, since they cut their pensions and benefits plans. However, their employees, civil servants, do indeed get benefits.
Who is going to leave a nice, secure job with a good pension, to serve the public good if there isn't some sort of compensation?
We need quality people in elected office. We need to pay them enough that it is worth it to take leave from their normal work and serve the public. When they are representing us, they shouldn't be getting off the plane between the guy in a Hawaiian shirt and the barfing baby.
If we are to be a first-class nation, we need to remember that sometimes we need to act first class, too.
Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net
