The Conservatives started a fire when they accused Gerald Butts and Katie Telford of sticking taxpayers with exorbitant costs for moving from Toronto to Ottawa. Now they're caught in their own backdraft. Michael Harris writes:
The Conservative Opposition had fun with the PMO expense scandal until the issue bit them in the ass. Tory MP and leadership candidate, Brad Trost, led the charge against his own party’s hypocrisy. Trost went on Twitter to demand that Guy Giorno, one of former PM Harper’s chiefs of staff, follow the lead of Butts and Telford by repaying part of his estimated $93,000 move from Toronto to Ottawa. Again, it was not because Giorno had done anything unethical or illegal; it was just that Trost thought Canadians were being sucked dry by people, well, who believed that they were entitled their entitlements.
And then Rona Ambrose came under scrutiny:
Ambrose charged the public $8,000 in condo rent and a further $869 for a three-night stay in an Ottawa hotel, a bill made necessary because Stornoway was apparently not ready for her to occupy. The Huffington Post reported that the bulk of these expenses were incurred from January to March 2016 — after she had moved into her official residence.
The CPC and Ambrose have since insisted that the interim leader did not claim expenses for accommodation while living rent-free at Stornoway. The Tory damage control line was that all of the expenses claimed by Ambrose were incurred before she moved to the official residence and were therefore admissible under the rules.
But they miss the point that Trost seems to have grasped: the issue for Canadians is not only a question of regulatory compliance, but of fairness. Why should the public have to pay for breaking the lease on her $2000 a month condo when Ambrose is making a quarter of a million dollars a year in publicly financed salary and moving into a taxpayer-funded mansion? What possible difference does it make to the average Joe and Jane whether Ambrose — the interim leader of the opposition — is resident in a Rockcliffe mansion or living out her condo lease that was perfectly fine when she was a cabinet minister?
The solution is to have the Auditor General look at MPs' expenses -- as he examined Senators' expenses.
But, once again, the Conservatives have been hogtied by their own hypocrisy.
Image: jashow.org
18 comments:
We need to be grown up about expenses. We want good people, we should treat them like executives. I think Ambrose was entiteled to compensation. Butts was entitled to moving expenses, including real estate, I did it myself many times.
As Dana has commented more than once, Steve, this is a tempest in a teapot. The point is that, when you set out to lay traps, you frequently get caught in your own handiwork.
When the Conservatives play the demagoguery card, Owen, they need to realize that the house always wins.
You'd think that -- by now -- they would have learned that lesson, Lorne.
Speaking of traps, Hillary has just seen the tip of the blowback spear with her beauty queen gambit. I would bet that Trump leaked his own tax returns and Hillary bit on that, now it could be Trump shot himself in the foot or as most things Trump the only thing the voters care about is he is not the establishment.
The the irony is, Steve, that Trump is part of the establishment. The proof is in those tax returns.
Trump is not the establishment.
Jaysus Wepput. Is there no end to delusion.
He knows how to game the system, Dana. In that sense, he's part of the establishment.
The system comes pre-gamed specifically for the benefit of people like him and all members of the 1%. Not one of us or anyone any of us knows has the either the wealth or the legal wherewithal to gain access to the levels of the pre-gamed system that allowed the Donald to essentially acquire a life time tax writedown.
Trump is capital E establishment in toto not in part.
And the only worthwhile point Harris made is that the "rules" being followed were written by the people now assuring us that they followed them.
Precisely, Dana. The establishment has captured the political system. And, if Trump is elected, he will be crowned king.
Pitchforks and torches, anyone?
Before this is over, Mound, there may be pitchforks and tar and feathers.
.. an articling law student might make mincemeat out of the 'values' or economic pragmatism of Rona Ambrose. Consider this perspective. On being awarded the temporary leadership of her Party.. which clearly came with a specific term & all the benefits & prestige of life at Stornoway - she determined she should break her condo lease.. She then expensed the people of Canada for the 2 months involved.
It might take a public school student 10 minutes to calculate the net benefit of lofe at Stornoway, for that term. All the student needs is the 'value' of rent free life, limos, food, chef, maids, dry cleaning, laundry.. and who else knows what.. RCMP security for sure, phones, internet, ground maintenance.. I think any Canadian would gladly trade life like a princess in exchange for paying your surprisingly cheat penalty for breaking a lease..
When the Conservative Party of Canada finally chooses a designated loser to replace her & the dear departed Harper/Novak/Laureen triangle, Rona will have already have a rental deal or offer, to get back into a condo or property of her choice, and will have banked mucho dinero saved by her sabbatical from expenses that 99.99999 Canadians must deal with monthly.. daily.. The illusion of her partner's 'visit' & his children, staying in a hotel to maintain some sort of parental propriety or whatever.. is to a great extent laughable. After all, her former rodeo star turned stock market guru is just riding her MP privilege re airfare, accom, meals - you name it..
Many of these senior Harper era MP's, Ministers etc are now millionaires.. with 'blind trusts' managed by whom? Nannies? Ex spouses? Stock market gurus? The recent disclosure from Common Sense Canadian points out how former Alberta premier Prentice is now an advisor to a private equity entity now involved in ownership of the bond rating agency threatening to lower provincial ratings, if more pipelines are not OK'd.. Is this like Saint Jim Flaherty hosting weekend retreats to gather Big Energy, Big Bank, Big Stock Market demands for conversion to federal legislation? Are we supposed to believe such inside info does not slip into bedside or backyard BBQ 'conversation' between partners or spouses? Ah.. can't pay the leae breaking penalty...
Dana there are nuances everywhere even with Trump. Writing down losses in the future is common, its one of the bedrocks of the capitalist system to allow risk takers to take risks. Its a good thing.
Maybe instead of saying the estalbishment I should have said the MAN. Trump is not never no way the man.
Only the day to day working stiff has to pay through the nose,our taxes are taking off every payday if you mess up and they find out you pay for it.I heard of this 75 year old man handing out the 24 hr news for a year did not declare he was was given a penalty a lecture and made payments for a year he also has some mental challenges. I understand the paying back but the penalty ???? When corps and wealthy make a reduced settlement the Tax people. Good for the Con M.P. .I did not realize there were honest cons still in the party.
It's an old story, davemj. The working stiff pays the bills.
The closer you get to the top these days, salamander, the farther away you are from those Leona Helmsley called the "little people."
I'm done with you, Steve.
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