Spend, spend, spend! Welcome to Canada! Just because our economy happens to be stronger than some, does it mean we have to be spending so frivolously?
Every week I scan the headlines and read the news looking for topics that capture my interest. It usually never fails, there are several pertaining to government spending and this week didn't disappoint.
I was surprised - yet not - to learn there is a 38-year-old senator from Quebec who was recently in court and then released on bail after being charged with assault and sexual assault. Barely out of the clinger he casually (and with a smug grin) strolled into the senate chamber like normal. He's reportedly been kicked out of the Conservative caucus but he's still allowed to sit as an Independent and he's still allowed to collect his $132,000 annual salary - despite the fact he now has a limited role as a result of his charges. This is a guy who is supposed to be making decisions for, and looking out for, Canadians. He can't even make his own decisions wisely and we want to fork out $132,000 for him to sit there with a grin on his face? Please...
A separate headline talked about a recent meeting of Canada's premiers in Halifax. Well it sounds like it was quite the meeting. Not only did our premiers discuss whatever matters of the day they decided on, but they were treated to over $53,000 worth of taxpayer-funded gifts that included cheese boards, whiskey tumblers, jackets, limited edition journals and broaches. We all like to get perks at work, but was this REALLY necessary? It wasn't Christmas or any other gift giving occasion, it was a meeting that was supposed to be about health care, education, energy and - get this - GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
"We expect politicians to treat taxpayer money like it's their own," points out the Nova Scotian director from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. " If it was their own, would they really be spending all this money on these items? They seem to find such an easy time spending taxpayers money."
It would seem so.
There WILL be expenses involved with running government, but when the spending makes no sense whatsoever accountability should come to the forefront and something should be done.
Sadly, these aren't isolated incidents. If we as Canadian taxpayers have to place our trust in government, it should be earned.
