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National Citizens Coalition Recognizes True Giantsof Wasteful Government Spending

TORONTO (February 4, 2010) With the federal debt climbing past $510 billion, ancombined provincial debt surpassing $350 billion, Canada is well on its way to reacha public debt level of $1 trillion in the next five years.

Taxpayers, of course, will have to pay this bill the same taxpayers who have beencutting back their own household expenditures and doing with less while theirgovernments continue to spend, Spend, SPEND.

To recognize those in government who epitomize bloated excess, the National CitizeCoalition (NCC) has published a list of worst offenders. It was a difficult processbecause there are so many candidates, says Peter Coleman, NCC President andCEO. The amount of wasteful spending that occurs at all levels of government is truamazing.

Tales From The Tax Trough VIchronicles some of the most outrageous examples public-sector profligacy. It is a Whos Who of politicians, appointed officials, andgovernment departments considered the true giants of wasteful spending. They are:

Human Rights Commissions

At an annual cost of $68 million, our Canadian Human Rights Commissions haevolved into absurd farces that censor free speech. But wait, it gets bettermoof the complaints brought before the CHRC were lodged by one, over-zealous

individual.

Federal Government

The Speaker of the House enjoys an apartment in the rear of the Centre Block comes with a full dining room and a chef, a house in the Gatineau Hills, a car a

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driver, a $1-million budget that includes up to $167,500 for hospitality, and a$75,516 pay increase on top of the $155,400 MP base salary.

MPs travel in style. For example, Maxime Bernier spent $17,537 on a flight to

Sydney, Australia, to attend an APEC meeting.

In only eighteen months, Governor General Michalle Jean spent $843,461 onflights.

Generous MP Pensions.Government public accounts suggest the pensionscheme cost taxpayers more than $56 million for the 2009-2010 year.

The CBC. The network received over a billion dollars in federal funding last yeaHubert Lacroix, President of the CBC, makes between $341,700 - $402,000 wibonus up to 28%, thus having a maximum pay of $514,560.

Social Studies and Humanities Research Council. Funded such studies as theexpansion of gay and lesbian rights in Argentina, Chile and Mexico ($62,156) ageographic mobility in rural Northern Burgundy during the 18th Century ($34,00

Provincial Governments

The Auditor General forNewfoundland and Labradorrevealed details on$1,600,000 in excessive expense claims that were filed by five provincialpoliticians, with amounts going directly into their own bank accounts.

Albertas provincial government has become the highest-spending governmenCanada. In 2009 it spent $11,000 per capita, compared to just over $8,000 forOntario.

Nearly one in ten Ontario government workers earns more than $100,000. Thenumber of highly paid Ontario public service employees shot up by nearly 32%2008.

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A probe ofCancer Care Ontario revealed $75 million of inappropriate orunqualified expenses. Furthermore, only 6% of expense claims included a receor documentation.

eHealth Ontario continues to be plagued by scandal. CEO Sarah Kramer wasfired over concerns relating to millions of dollars of untendered contracts, andexcessive cost over-runs nearing $1 billion. She earned$380,000 last year plu$114,000 bonus. She also received a $317,000 severance when she was sack

In British Columbia, the downtown lower east side of Vancouver receives nea$1 million a day for social housing and support.

The NCC is calling on all levels of government to implement zero-based budgeting. need a top-to-bottom review of spending and a systemic cut of unnecessary, wastefuexpenditures, Coleman says. We could save billions of dollars dollars that could ar more good in the pockets of consumers.