government-wide spending on advertising more than tripled since the Conservatives first won power, growing to $136.3-million in 2009-10 from $41.3-million in 2005-06 [source]
Published Jan. 04, 2012 on the Globe & Mail
The country’s finance minister confirms what just about every other economist in the country already knew.
originally posted here
Well, we can officially scratch one campaign promise off the Conservatives’ list: Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said it will take longer to eliminate the country’s deficit than the party had pledged just six months ago. During the election, the Tories had said they would eliminate the deficit by 2014-2015, in time for the next federal election. But Flaherty told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce that that projection was a little rosy, as the ongoing debt crisis in Europe and sluggish growth here in Canada means the deficit won’t be eliminated until 2015-16 at least. Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page had earlier said it could take until 2017-18 to complete that goal, but we’ll give Flaherty the benefit of the doubt until he inevitably takes the stage some months or years down the line to let us know that, yep, that deficit’s gonna be sticking around longer than anticipated. The NDP has charged that the Tories’ fixation on cutting government spending will just exacerbate Canada’s economic problems, such as unemployment and sluggish growth.
We know talks of debt and deficit lead to government spending cuts; we know most times these ‘unnecessary’ services are essential: healthcare, education, social services to mention a few. We also know that corporate tax cuts have reached new lows while employment insurance premiums increased. We have experienced and will soon face more attacks on labour and workers by a neoliberal government never considering alternatives to imposing Back To Work Legislation in favour of a ‘healthy economy’.
The average Canadian has not been experiencing prosperity. Numerous reports have indicated the historical gap between the haves and have-nots as well as national poverty rates. Canadians live through the increase of inequality in Canada where top CEOs are reported to make an average Canadian’s salary in a matter of hours.
The math just does not add up. We have paid our fair share of taxes. We are not growing wealthier. We are growing poorer and more financially unstable. And now, as our rights as students, workers, patients, etc… are being stripped by unjust regulations, the same government speaks of a rhetorical deficit crisis leading to the well rehearsed assumption that ONLY cuts on wasteful government spending would save our country.
PROPOSAL GOALS:
1. To redefine wasteful government spending.
2. To identify wasteful government spending through collection of data, news articles, reports, etc.
3. To challenge the Federal government’s position on corporate tax cuts by providing evidence against the claim that tax cuts create jobs.
4. To discuss implications of government social service cuts in specific sectors and communities.
5. To start organizing a breakdown into municipal, provincial, and federal wasteful spending records.
Join us. Send us links, articles, news stories that are relevant to this projects.
References | Evidence | News Articles
G8/G20 fake lake slammed by opposition: Ignatieff calls summits ‘world’s most expensive photo op’ June 8 2010 | CBC
PM defends G8 fake lake pavilion: Ignatieff: waste of taxpayers’ money for summits ‘astonishing’ June 8 2010 | CBC
IISD report estimates value of subsidies to Canada’s oil industry at $2.84 billion in 2008 November 2 2010 | IISD
Harper government to spend $6.5-million to promote tax-cutting record February 2 2011 | Globe & Mail
Harper government’s ad buy costs taxpayers $26M March 13 2011 | CTV
AG slams government over secrecy on G8 spending June 9 2011 | CTV
Prison costs soar 86% in past five years: report July 18 2011 | National Post
Security spending after 9/11 tops $92B September 7 2011 | CBC
Tories hire $90,000-a-day consultant to help cut spending September 20 2011 | Globe & Mail
Harper government spent upwards of $100M building a Palestinian security force to protect Abbas from his main rival, Hamas September 22 2011 | Rabble
Emails reignite furor over G8 Muskoka spending September 26 2011 | The Star
The government has spent at least $1.6-million on a panel of three retired judges vetting thousands of secret documents at the centre of the detainee torture allegations in Afghanistan—but none of the censored information has yet been made public October 2 2011 | Ottawa Citizen
Harper government slammed for news conference spending October 6 2011 | Postmedia
Rideau skateway gets 7 new chalets November 13 2011 | CBC
Rideau Canal huts go upscale, at $750,000 each November 16 2011 | Ottawa Citizen < No longer online
Federal spending rises 22 per cent under Harper government November 18 2011 | Postmedia
Government spending review could mean cancellation of entire programs: Clement November 24 2011 | Global
Clement under fire for spending: Paid millions for consultants November 25 2012 | Postmedia
Canada to spend $7.5-million on celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee December 6 2011 | National Post
Parliament Hill barricades to cost $9M December 29 2011 | CBC
Fender benders in government vehicles cost Ottawa millions January 2 2012 | The Star
Tories spent $2.8M to tout action plan January 2 2012 | Ottawa Citizen
The above article is no longer available online.
#Tories spent $2.8M to tout action plan. Government won’t release info on how successful campaign was. #cdnpoli bit.ly/tGwxwT
— The Ottawa Citizen (@OttawaCitizen) January 3, 2012
Bureaucrats flying on taxpayer dime January 3 2012 | National Post
Yaffe: $600K spent in bid to close injection site underscores Tory stubbornness January 3 2012 | Postmedia
Above story no longer available online. Screenshot:
Advanced Leadership Program: School Of Public Service Initiative Under Fire For Pricey Bureaucrat Travel January 3 2012 | Huffington Posts
Hospital execs’ big bucks contracts now public January 3 2012 | Sun News
Ottawa Hospital CEO salary tops $517,700: Ontario hospitals disclose top executives’ salaries January 4 2012 | Ottawa Citizen < No longer available online
Tory government hiked ad spending to promote stimulus projects January 4 2012 | Globe & Mail
PM should investigate London lockout January 4 2012 | The Spec
Fender Benders In Canadian Government Vehicles Cost Feds Millions, Analysis Shows January 4 2012 | Huffington Post
Wacky office games used as morale boosters in prime minister’s department January 6 2012 | Vancouver Observer
Feds hire consultant to inject some war into annual Canada Day party January 8 2012 | The Star
Flaherty’s tax credits costing Ottawa billions January 9 2012 | Globe & Mail
Edmonton transit riders to be scanned for explosives January 10 2012 | Edmonton Journal
Above article no longer available through link. Story below retrieved here
EDMONTON — Train riders validating their tickets at an Edmonton transit station will also have them scanned for explosive and radioactive materials this spring.
Under a federally funded pilot project, ticket machines at the light rail station will be modified to sniff out potential terrorist threats in a test of technology aimed at boosting safety for commuters without slowing them down with airport-style holdups.
San Diego-based Cubic Security Systems announced this week it and Canadian company Mobile Detect will install radiological and explosives detection sensors inside ticket vending and validation machines at Churchill Station, in downtown Edmonton.
The ticket validators will scan and read changes on polymer coatings on the tickets that signal the presence of dangerous substances. Another detector will sense radioactive materials.
“A silent alarm triggers video surveillance of the person suspected to be carrying threatening materials, and authorities such as police and transit security are immediately notified,” said Walt Bonneau Jr., president and general manager of Cubic Security Systems.
Staples: LRT bomb sensors waste of money January 12 2012 | Edmonton Journal < No longer available. Brief intro can be found here
Counterterrorism technology to be tested on Edmonton transit riders January 11 2012 | Globe & Mail
Critics pan terror-fighting transit program January 11 2012 | Sun News
Bomb-sniffing technology a waste of taxpayer funds January 13 2012 | Postmedia
DND Spends $374,000 To Renovate Offices Of Two Top Officials January 16 2012 | Huffington Post
RELEVANT: Nuclear device in your pocket? Avoid Churchill LRT June 19 2012 | Edmonton Journal
RELEVANT: Transit security test program June 20 2012 | CBC
EI financing agency spends millions doing nothing January 19 2012 | CBC
Tories eager to outsource more ad work January 19 2012 | Globe & Mail
Lawful Access Legislation: Police Misusing Funds Lobbying For Spying Powers, OpenMedia Says January 18 2012 | Huffington Post
Police chiefs spend tax dollars to lobby for warrantless online surveillance January 19 2012 | Open Media via Rabble
Gilles Duceppe under fire over report alleging Bloc Quebecois misused taxpayers’ money January 22 2012 | National Post
More information officers, less information January 27 2012 | Globe & Mail
Costly federal appointments office has nothing much to do: Bureaucracy set up to support Public Appointments Commission, which was then scrapped January 27 2012 | CBC
Conservatives have put Canadians in a hole January 30 2012 | Vancouver Sun < No longer available
Canadian Psychological Association Submission to the Senate Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs – Omnibus Crime Bill January 30 2012 | CPA
French company aims for $2.2 billion Canadian combat vehicle contract January 31 2012 | Global
Controversial contractors paid $2.4M by Canadian Forces: Documents show Canadian Forces used former Blackwater training facility January 31 2012 | CBC
Fantino took $5,900 helicopter “demonstration” flight between Ottawa and Petawawa February 6 2012 | Ottawa Citizen
Vic Toews unveils wide counter-terrorism strategy February 10 2012 | Vancouver Sun < No longer available
Harper personally approved $22,000 tab for visiting bureaucrats February 26 2012 | Globe & Mail
$42M glass dome approved for Parliament February 18 2012 | CBC
Government will stick to F-35 budget: Fantino March 2 2012 | Sun News
Prison spending trumps seniors for Harper government February 29 2012 | Vancouver Sun
MacKay ordered military staff to investigate critics February 25 2012 | CTV
Feds pay $20,000 for oilpatch brochures, printing some in USA and others in United Kingdom March 9 2012 | Postmedia
Time To Crack Down On Gross Government Waste March 9 2012 | FAIR
MLA committee paid $870,000 for no work March 8 2012 | Postmedia < No longer available
Relevant: Teddy award to Alberta 21 MLA’s paid $870,000 for non sitting committee; $1000/month for no work. Talk about pork barraling! March 13 2012 | BevNDP
Relevant: Letter: Re $870,000 is a lot of money March 14 2012 | Morinville News
Libya victory ceremony cost soared to over $800,000: documents March 12 2012 | Postmedia < No longer available
Harper had 94 staffers, 21 of whom earned $100,000-plus: Number of full-time PMO employees to be reduced to fend off criticism April 13 2012 | Gazette
Canada spent $25 M bombing Gadhafi forces April 18 2012 | Postmedia
International Development Minister Bev Oda apologizes for luxury hotel spending April 24 2012 | The Star
Ottawa gave Shell $32-million tax refund last year April 25 2012 | Globe & Mail
Taxpayers cough up $12-million for ads touting Flaherty’s budget May 1 2012 | Globe & Mail
As public service girds for cuts, Ottawa’s personnel costs increase May 4 2012 | Globe & Mail
Taxpayers on hook for Harper’s high-powered legal defence in Guergis case May 8 2012 | Postmedia
Relevant: 404 Power Profile: Bennett Jones – working draft
Military ombudsman ‘welcomes’ probe into travel expenses, dysfunction May 18 2012 | Edmonton Journal
Parliament Hill reno spending rises to nearly $600 million this year May 18 2012 | Postmedia
Oda’s travel expenses cause dissent in Tory caucus June 1 2012 | CBC
Tories redraw defence spending plans amid frustration over procurement June 3 2012 | Postmedia
‘Embarrassment to government’ considered security threat at Toronto G20 summit: documents June 10 2012 | Ottawa Citizen
Relevant: Toronto G8/G20 Summit Budget Document Collection
F-35: Peter MacKay photo op to announce purchase cost taxpayers over $47,000 June 5 2012 | Postmedia
Relevant: Legion worries soldier deaths may rise after DND cuts May 24 2012 | CBC
Defence Department can’t explain increase in costs June 8 2012 | National Post
Conservatives draw fire for War of 1812 spending: Harper government praised for celebrating past, but also questioned June 15 2012 | CBC
$20 Million on Harper’s Security in 2012: Tightened tactics breed dissent in Harper’s security detail June 23 2012 | Globe & Mail
DND spends millions on rent, food for CF members separated from families June 24 2012 | Postmedia
Harper Government Rebranding: Taxpayers Spent Over $86,000 Helping Tories Rebrand Federal Government June 24 2012 | Huffington Post
Visitors get $49-million welcome centre but fewer chances to tour Parliament June 29 2012 | Globe & Mail
Flaherty photo op in city cost pretty penny July 11 2012 | Winnipeg Free Press
Press Secretary: MP Bev Oda smoked in office, charged Canadians July 12 2012 | Digital Journal
Gordon Campbell’s hospitality tab tops other diplomats: Former B.C. premier now Canada’s high commissioner in London July 16 2012 | CBC
Army trucks project cancelled after DND added $300 million to price tag without permission July 17 2012 | Postmedia
‘Clerical errors’ overstated Gordon Campbell expenses: Revised reports cut top diplomat’s claims in half July 18 2012 | CBC
Military Chopper Used For Labrador Fishing Trip July 20 2012 | Huffington Post
Defence spending in Canada: Booby traps. Problems for a much-vaunted modernisation July 21 2012 | The Economist
Oda costs included $250 hotel smoking fine, files show September 8 2012 | CBC
DND to pay $100 million to private firm to replace laid-off workers September 11 2012 | Postmedia
Taxpayers on the hook for whopping $349,000: Government pays company to look after old migrant ship September 15 2012 | Postmedia
Foreign Affairs paid $2M for study on threats to embassies September 15 2012 | The Spec
Foreign Affairs paid $2M for study on threats to embassies September 15 2012 | CBC
Magnotta’s trip home cost Canada $375,000 September 16 2012 | CJME
Conservatives spent record $130-million on advertising as deficit soared September 20 2012 | Globe and Mail
Feds spent more than $750K fighting veterans’ pension claim September 23 2012 | CBC
Amid cutbacks, Conservatives commit $16M to ‘action plan’ ads October 10 2012 | iPolitics
Conservatives overspent government ad budgets by 37% October 11 2012 | CBC
War of 1812 ads during Olympic television coverage cost $1.64-million October 13 2012 | Hill Times
Parliament Hill reno costs quietly soar above billion-dollar mark November 1 2012 | Globe & Mail
Federal government legal spending hit record $500 million last year November 8 2012 | Ottawa Citizen
Lawyers cost us half a trillion dollars: We pay for government lawyers, not Harper The Monitor
Parliament Buildings to get a $9.8-million security upgrade, and another 13 years of Hill renovations: Electrical wires being laid for new security enhancements to Parliamentary Precinct entrances November 19 2012 | Hill Times
Olympic advertising costs topped $4 million, Harper government says November 24 2012 | Postmedia
Christopher Stoney says PM Stephen Harper’s government is focused on visible spending with a political payoff January 14 2013 | Hill Times
Taxpayers paid tab for CEOs on Harper’s 2012 China trip: Delegation to 3 Chinese cities included 30 oil, agriculture and manufacturing executives January 21 2013 | CBC
Shipping Harper limos to India cost $1 million January 29 2013 | Ottawa Citizen
Government ad spending on economy balloons under Tories February 4 2013 | CBC
How much did the Harper government spend on their Super Bowl ads? February 5 2013 | Yahoo
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