Canadian MPs and senators stuff their faces with free food
We thought it was bad when Senator Pamela Wallin spent $375,00 of taxpayers' dough on travel over three years.
It also reeked when Senator Mike Duffy claimed to repay $90,000 in ill-gotten housing expenses, only to learn that the prime minister's former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, cut the cheque.
Keep in mind this cancelled cheque has never been shown to the public and that the Prime Minister's Office has a secret slush fund provided by the Conservative Party. According to CBC, this was presided over by none other than Nigel Wright.
Now, the Huffington Post's Althia Raj has written a story about how MPs and senators can claim $89.95 per day for meals in Ottawa without showing expenses.
With senators earning $135,000 per year, taxpayers can be forgiven for thinking that these party hacks could afford to buy their own food.
MPs collect $160,200 per year. Cabinet ministers, the speaker, and opposition leader collect an extra $76,700. Ministers of state get a $57,500 top-up.
But they still eat for free in Ottawa.
Toronto mayor Rob Ford's favourite slogan is "Stop the Gravy Train."
If it could get a doofus like him elected, federal opposition parties should pick up on this idea with regard to the free gravy and everything else that MPs are stuffing in their mouths.
They just might earn a few more votes and send Harper and Co. packing, which would save a whole lot more money on unnecessary military expenditures.
Comments
4 Comments
DavidH
Jun 10, 2013 at 3:23pm
Why would any smart, competent person in the private sector want to earn less than $160,200 per year plus expenses?
There are dozens (perhaps hundreds) of reasons to criticize our politicians, but pay scale isn't one of them. That's why we end up with a parliament/legislature full of well-heeled lawyers, etc. They can afford a temporary "pay cut" to gain more favour in the long term.
Bev Oda drank expensive orange juice! Gasp! Oh, the taxpayer horror!!
Stop already. I care when a government minister blows $16 million. Not $16.
Xtina
Jun 14, 2013 at 1:37pm
Every citizen should be called to be a government , like jury duty only with all the buffet one can slurp. That way all citizens gain knowledge and appreciation for how our various polities operate and function and, best of all, all citizens would get a much deserved financial windfall. Thanks GS for pointing out yet another benefit to being a federal government staff member!
another benefit for Harper
Jun 20, 2013 at 9:58am
Is by being the governing Federal Party that is under investigation by the under funded RCMP gets to call the cheap shots. The RCMP are just setting up a special office to handle the complaints on PM. There is also no need for a gun registry because the PM aims to please gun toting Canadians, better know as gangsters but the RCMP not so much. Canadians want to see the the cheque Duffy cashed as the over the hill PM has the growing belly to prove that he rarely passes on free lunches.
Roberto
Apr 6, 2014 at 4:47am
Shame on our MPs. There are children who to school every morning with empty bellies' because their parents can barely support them. Yet $89.00 is given to to government to eat lunch. That money should be put i,to school breakfast and lunch programs. Also supplying families with
food cards to buy more food. I would be more than happy to administer this program. I challenge every member of Parliament to give this,money to food programs that would keep children and senior,keep healthy. Prime Minister Harper can email , onumaytu@hotmail.com . The children are the future.