canadian, political, corruption, greed, graft, perks, federal, government, oink, pigs, trough, pork, barrel, liberals, poor, broke, taxpayer, corrupt, feds, greedy, shysters, screw, voters

Freebie budget doubled

MPs increase money for gifts, flowers, coffee to $6,770

By ANNE DAWSON -- Ottawa Bureau Chief April 28, 2002

OTTAWA -- It's no April Fool's Day joke.

MPs from all parties quietly moved behind closed doors to boost the amount of money they can spend on flowers and hospitality as well as increase luxury airline travel for their loved ones.

HIGHLY SECRETIVE

The highly secretive Board of the Internal Economy, which is comprised of MPs from all political stripes, revealed Friday that as of April 1, 2001 -- that means it's retroactive -- MPs can increase the amount of money they spend on coffee, lunches out, gifts and flowers from $3,000 a year to $6,770. That's more than double.

The board also approved a rule change that will allow MPs to dip into that newly increased expense account if they need more money than the $15,000-a-year they already get to pay for their apartments in Ottawa.

That perk also retroactively kicked in April 1, 2001.

And as of this past April 1, the board unanimously approved more business class round-trip airline tickets for the husbands, wives, children and lovers -- same-sex or not, of MPs to 25 per year from 20. The overall number of 64 roundtrip tickets per MP stays the same.

All of these perks coincide with the recent pay hike MPs quietly received two weeks ago increasing their salaries by $3,550 to $135,000 a year. That, of course, doesn't include the $15,000-a-year apartment allowance.

The pay hike brought Prime Minister Jean Chretien's annual salary to $270,050. And that, of course, doesn't include the two rent-free mansions taxpayers provide for him.

Government Whip Marlene Catterall staunchly defended the increased benefits saying the overall $225,000 on average office budget that each MP gets annually is not being increased. It's simply a rule change that allows MPs to spend more of that money on some of the little, but important things.

Besides, she added, the increased expense accounts really don't amount to much considering the government's overall budget is $160 billion.

When you compare the office budget expense allowances of municipal councillors in most large cities, "you'll find we're being pretty stingy with ourselves," Catterall said.

She said the money is needed for basic necessities.

"It's for hospitality expenses --meeting with constituents and you want to buy coffee or take them to lunch -- or meetings at a restaurant," she said.

"Or you want to buy flowers for your office or a coffee perk for your office."

canadian, political, corruption, greed, graft, perks, federal, government, oink, pigs, trough, pork, barrel, liberals, poor, broke, taxpayer, corrupt, feds, greedy, shysters, screw, voters

Freebie budget doubled

MPs increase money for gifts, flowers, coffee to $6,770

By ANNE DAWSON -- Ottawa Bureau Chief April 28, 2002

OTTAWA -- It's no April Fool's Day joke.

MPs from all parties quietly moved behind closed doors to boost the amount of money they can spend on flowers and hospitality as well as increase luxury airline travel for their loved ones.

HIGHLY SECRETIVE

The board also approved a rule change that will allow MPs to dip into that newly increased expense account if they need more money than the $15,000-a-year they already get to pay for their apartments in Ottawa.

That perk also retroactively kicked in April 1, 2001.

And as of this past April 1, the board unanimously approved more business class round-trip airline tickets for the husbands, wives, children and lovers -- same-sex or not, of MPs to 25 per year from 20. The overall number of 64 roundtrip tickets per MP stays the same.

All of these perks coincide with the recent pay hike MPs quietly received two weeks ago increasing their salaries by $3,550 to $135,000 a year. That, of course, doesn't include the $15,000-a-year apartment allowance.

The pay hike brought Prime Minister Jean Chretien's annual salary to $270,050. And that, of course, doesn't include the two rent-free mansions taxpayers provide for him.

Government Whip Marlene Catterall staunchly defended the increased benefits saying the overall $225,000 on average office budget that each MP gets annually is not being increased. It's simply a rule change that allows MPs to spend more of that money on some of the little, but important things.

Besides, she added, the increased expense accounts really don't amount to much considering the government's overall budget is $160 billion.

When you compare the office budget expense allowances of municipal councillors in most large cities, "you'll find we're being pretty stingy with ourselves," Catterall said.

She said the money is needed for basic necessities.

"It's for hospitality expenses --meeting with constituents and you want to buy coffee or take them to lunch -- or meetings at a restaurant," she said.

"Or you want to buy flowers for your office or a coffee perk for your office."

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