Former Quebec lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault will face six criminal charges in connection with her expense accounts. Not surprised at all… they should audit every single expense claim by people in such positions. Most civil and public servants do it but some do it on a larger scale. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/09/25/thibault-charges.html
The Federal public servants at Transport Canada are routinely filing millions of dollars in expenses – including overtime, salaries and computers – toward a construction project that doesn’t exist. The Mackenzie Valley pipeline remains a mega-project that is perpetually on the horizon –The project seemed closer at hand when a fund was set up at Transport Canada six years ago so that the department could oversee the expected increase in air traffic and other transportation needs. Though the pipeline remains in limbo, the department has kept the fund alive year after year, using it to cover millions in expenses that have nothing to do with the pipeline. Documents released through access-to-information requests list the expenses, which total $10.7-million since 2004. Expenses continued to be billed to the pipeline project this year. ” So, when you consider that Chuck Guite (Sr. Public servant) and Paul Coffin (ad exec) started running their fake ad invoice scam during the Mulroney administration, it appears that the Liberals inherited AdScam from the Conservatives, does it not? ” “This is why our taxes are so high. Take this and the Gold that vanished at the Mint and the tab is through the roof. Anyone want to bet the Mint millions gets swept under the carpet?” ” Too much time spent electioneering and not enough time spent runnin’ things. ” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/transport-canada-fictitiously-expensing-millions/article1286306/
People in leadership office do have to face higher penalties as an example now too. It is clearly established, accepted fact by most people that those in leadership civil and public servants cops, teachers, ministers, politicians included are always to be exemplary in behavior, conduct and they do need to maintain their high standards even out of their working hours, thus to do so they are also to be exemplary judged, prosecuted for their own wrong doings with a higher standard over those of us ordinary folks.
There’s something deeply ironic about all of this, and previous federal governments; they know that the cities, provinces that suppossedly drive the economy they know they also do steal a lot of the money too.. Premier’s Letter To The Ontario Public Service
No such thing as a little bit pregnant, what other wrongs, thefts are the civil and public servants doing and falsely covering up now? And now still all this being done while most Canadians now do live from paycheque to paycheque. Majority of Canadian employees living paycheque to paycheque, survey shows
Is this how the rest of the federal economic stimulation money will be now abused as well? Right under the federal Conservative Minister’s noses now as well?
HOW MUCH OF THE CANADIAN FEDERAL CONSERVATIVE RECESSION STIMULATION MONEY IS BUDGETED THIS YEAR ALONE, AND HOW MUCH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ISSUED, AND HOW MANY REAL , NEW JOBS WERE ACTUALLY NOW CREATED AS A RESULT? NONE, AND THE MONEY IS ALL GONE?
The Conservative federal government is an unacceptably very poor manager of the taxpayer’s money now as well. The Federal Transfer payments make up a very large part of federal expenditures. The federal government is a tax collector, money expediter and an useless money administrator too, while the federal government’s own regular operating expenses for fiscal 2009-2010 will be only about a quarter of its total spending all the taxpayer’s money expenditures still needs to be supervised, yes held accountable for now as well.
Flaherty had said the government would clean up its books by restraining the growth in federal program spending over several years. That spending, now $241 billion a year, has been growing on average at a rapid 7 per cent annual rate since Harper took office. We can see why too.. the liars also all keep on allowing the taxpayer’s money to be stolen..
The Conservative federal Government expenditures since Harper came into office, his government expenditures have ballooned by over 30 per cent. They rather had increased spending by three times the rate of inflation in the three budgets before the recession hit, and now spend $40 billion more annually than the last Liberal government. Consultants. Harper government spent nearly a billion dollars on consultants in its first two years in office: a 42-per-cent increase over the amount the previous Liberal government spent between 2004 and 2006 on consultants (Toronto Star, December 8, 2008). Ministerial expenses. Despite promising to tighten their belts, a Toronto Star analysis found that Conservative ministers are spending more than Liberals ever did in government (The Toronto Star, November 22, 2008), while Harper’s expansion of the federal cabinet last fall will cost taxpayers an additional $3.9 million in salaries alone for the extra ministers and their staff. Polling. In 2007, the Harper government commissioned more than two polls per business day which totalled $31 million in the government’s first year of government. Prime Minister’s Office. Last week it was revealed that spending in Prime Minister Harper’s own office soared by 14 per cent in a single year – the tune of a whopping $20 million. (Canwest News Service, September 4, 2009). http://www.liberal.ca/en/newsroom/media-releases/16292_when-pigs-fly-more-huffing-and-puffing-from-harpers-55-billion-man
Where is PM Stephen Harper’s promised restraint, accountability now as well?
Conservative Ministers merely like to do all the talking but seem to bring no real, viable acts, actions on the issues still too. Unacceptable.
And why is it that their only solution to any problem in Canada seems to involve a tax increase? Because sadly that even the Conservatives undeniably too really are not better economic managers over the past Liberals..
The essential needed way to save our taxpayer’s money is still to look at how all of these public services are delivered – and no one can tell me that there are no cost-cutting savings to be achieved. Compare say a city like Montreal or Toronto where exorbitant rates too now are also paid for useless civil and public servants with their rather unskilled services – sadly this same phenomena can be seen in many federal ministries.
For a start all Ministers supervising better all of their expenditures, and bringing all of the subordinates salaries and wages in line with the private sector would enable us firstly to continue delivering public services at the same level, or more! It is the still the too often abusive civil and public servants spending that now also determines the still abusive personal taxes.
The sad unacceptable fact is that this type of taxpayer’s money abuse, practice is not an isolated case, but rather repeats itself often, Canada wide at the federal, provincial, municipal levels undeniably too.. Money allotted is not used where it was originally supposed to be but often is transferred to some other department, account.. and how is it the auditor generals did not pick it up for 10 years too? or refuse too?
Any Abuse of any taxpayers finds should be a criminal offence fully prosecutable by law, and should mean the immediate dismissal of all involved too, after all it is stealing the taxpayer’s money. Police, judges, supervisors don’t tend to enforce it cause they do the same thing? All Unacceptable still
We need better Policing and “Tougher penalties for sure!” You will get a longer jail sentence for robbing a convenience store of $50 than fleecing investors for millions (billions) or stealing any of the tax payer’s money. “Also, put an end to double credit for pre-sentence incarceration!!” Put all of the criminals in jail, and their bad supervisors now too, where they belong, and always do take way from them all that they have stolen now as well.. and do start with the bad civil and public servants now as well.
Feds promise mandatory jail time for major fraud. Judges could consider restitution for victims as part of white-collar crime bill
I’ve always found it funny that someone could steal a $2000 car and be sentenced to 20 years in jail. But steal 30 Million and you only do 18 months…. at Club Med. Excellent. There’s plenty of crime on Parliament Hill. Start your crackdown there. Are the politicians going to turn on their masters in Corporate Canada? How long will it take Harper to IGNORE this Law?.. Start with Mulroney. That would be a fine example to lead the charge with. There’s not a word in the legislation about obscene bonuses. Those will remain legal. Lock up all the CEOs! (Start with Bell…) Start with the telecommunication providers, and the banks. That’s great, as long as the crackdown starts on parliament hill. Rob a thousand people of $100,000 each, that’s a crime. Rob a million people of $100 each by credit card interest rates that’s OK, that’s business. We should have election threats every months, it seems it’s the only way anything happens on the hill. Threaten an election and suddenly the legislative agenda is crammed with draft laws that should have been there months ago. Harper – just another Calgarian running another Ponzi scheme… promising big returns but producing nothing of value. http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/09/15/white-collar-crime015.html
The government “moving ahead, with more taxes” is not the most important thing that the province can do to strengthen the economy and create jobs but rather to seriously plug up the leaking holes in the taxpayer’s pail of money first.
Ontario has announced new measures aimed at putting an end to recent controversies over government expense claims “The move is one of “four additional steps to protect taxpayer dollars and improve accountability,” Starting immediately, Ontario Public Service employees will be issued new, simplified guidelines for travel, meals and hospitality expenses. The province said it is also planning to increase the number of random audits it carries out on the province’s agencies, boards and commissions. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/09/14/ont-expenses.html and about time now too!
Quebec says it is intensifying police efforts to tackle corruption and financial fraud in the province amid a growing public furor over white-collar crime. The Charest government says a squad of about 20 provincial police investigators will be assigned to probe potential corruption – including the infiltration of organized crime – in the construction industry and municipal affairs. It will also bolster its police presence to track fraud with Quebec’s securities regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers. Meanwhile, with Montrealers going to the polls this fall, city hall is under a cloud for allegations of fraud, kickbacks and the inappropriate awarding of contracts. Multiple police investigations have been launched. Last week, a senior civil servant and a computer consultant were charged with defrauding the city of millions in a bogus billing scheme in the city’s computer division. While Quebec rejigs its police manpower, some have called for a public commission into the province’s construction industry and possible ties to organized crime. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/quebec-cracks-down-or-corruption-white-collar-crime/article1286432/
Quebec “coming after” white collar criminals.. I hope they catch Chretien and Martin… I hope the measures will also include effective tools to get the embezzled money back…. People like Vincent Lacroix and Earl Jones should also spend the rest of their lives making restitution to the people they stole from. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/09/14/quebec-fraudsters-white-collar-criminals.html
and why did it take so long to deal with white collared crimes that have been clearly ongoing even in Quebec too now for decades, not just in all of Canada. Why? The Police Commercial Crime divisions cops, RCMP included applauded the criminals.. cause they do the same thing?
Meanwhile Thousands of shipping containers enter Canada by rail each year without proper checks for illegal drugs and other contraband, says a new report. I don’t think that drugs is the only thing we have to worry about. Also What ought to be of far greater concern for all Canadians is the entry of illegal weapons into Canada. Perhaps the money wasted on arming our border guards could have been better spent trying to prevent these weapons from getting onto the streets of our cities.. it amazes me as to how much attention is given to taxpayers in arrears,and almost none given to canadian security.why are we paying these elected bufoons so much money,and allowing them huge pensions after so little time in office?expense accounts,vehicles,perks,and they cant even manage a railyard?theres better security at a rock concert! i wish they would work as hard for those of us who voted them in,as they do trying to get re-elected,,it makes ya wonder who the idiots are us or the politicians we voted form,what a mess. Regular citizens are getting worked over like never before and always without a smile! “Never worry, never fear” etc etc. Not to mention the really top-notch work done by all Harper’s tough-on-crime policies and accountability… [this was a sarcastic comment for those who missed it] http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/14/border-railway-inspect-train-drug.html
Ontario Premier McGuinty announced that expenses for cabinet ministers, political aides, top mandarins, and all senior executives at Ontario’s 22 largest agencies will be posted on the Internet as of next April 1. “We’re going to shine a light on all expenses so Ontarians will know who, exactly, is spending what, exactly,” the premier told reporters. The premier is girding for an onslaught of opposition attacks stemming from controversy over expenses and perks at the OLG and eHealth Ontario. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said voters are tired of an “arrogant” government that seems to make things harder on taxpayers and easier for insiders. The waste of precious tax dollars on these scandals is unacceptable .. people are telling me they are fed up with a government not able to focus on putting the dollars where they belong,” “the Liberals’ “culture of entitlement.” http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/695359
TORONTO — Ontario’s health bureaucracy is facing yet another scandal in the wake of more revelations of spending and procurement abuses. In a special report released Wednesday morning, Auditor-General Jim McCarter outlines numerous problems at hospitals and local health integration networks (LHINs), regional funding agencies created by the Liberal government. McCarter points to the questionable hiring of pricey consultants, many of which were sole-sourced and often not required to justify the work they did. The report details a litany of questionable consulting gigs at hospitals, including one, worth $700,000, that was so vague it didn’t even list a detailed description of services needed. Another hospital completely failed to account for a $170,000 consultant contract, and was unable to produce the initial request for proposal, the names and number of firms invited to bid, the bidders’ proposals or any evaluation criteria used to reward the contract. The same firm was retained for another, $430,000 contract. Another hospital paid $8.3 million to one consulting firm for IT services over the past three fiscal years, including $180,000 the firm charges for each consultant it provides. The auditor’s report also details questionable expense claims by hospital consultants. They include one temporary executive who, despite his $275,000 annual salary, also billed the hospital nearly $150,000 for other consultants and administrative support, $14,000 for salary bonuses, foreign exchange fees and a Christmas luncheon, and numerous expensive hotels (including one, in Chicago, where he paid $500 for hotel phone charges) and lavish meals around the world. McCarter also questioned the use of lobbyists by half the 16 hospitals he audited. “We questioned the appropriateness of using government funds to pay lobbyists to help obtain more government funding.”Health minister Deb Matthews reacted swiftly to the report, announcing legislation that will ban the use of lobbyists and open hospitals to freedom of information legislation by January 1, 2012. The auditor-general also found “significant” problems with consultant contracts signed by LHINs The revelations contained in Wednesday’s report are reminiscent of those unearthed last December, when Mr. McCarter detailed spending abuses at eHealth Ontario. That agency, created by the Liberal government, was found to have given millions in sole-sourced contracts to high-priced consultants with few controls and little oversight.“I’m not afraid to say that I’m really sorry this has gone on,” said Matthews. “I don’t think this is acceptable. I don’t think we’ve been as accountable as we ought to have been. We owe it to taxpayers to ensure that every dollar they spend on taxes gets the best possible value.” http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Ontario+Auditor+General+slams+hospital+lobbying/3701093/story.html
The same bad Liberals never learned to do things right and honestly the first time even.. allow their consultant sins to go on falsely.
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