The joys of a blog open to public commentary: Somebody stole the Parliamentary email address of one of my caucus colleagues today and bombarded me with emails, all of whch I have set aside. Here’s his basic point:
This CAPER leads me to believe that there is a good probability, that MPs’ in one way or another, dealing through a discreet real estate agent and lawyer in combination, could well turn to a DEAL which afforded the opportunity of a RENT TO OWN situation. What follows is just such an example:
HUNTCLUB PINEVIEW, KANATA NEPEAN, ORLEANS 3 Bedrooms, 2 washrooms, garage. Fireplace. Renovated. $2000 down / $899 monthly RENT TO OWN. (613) 798-6846
It also coincides neatly with the $2,000 monthly accommodation allowance, which, as you know was raised recently, as per your column. Not to be too cynical … I’ve never seen a SKINNY MP who declared a hunger strike … but the food allowance could be combined with such a rent to own initiative. I think it would be timely for a great SCRIBE, such as your good self, to recommend that all
accommodation agreements be AUDITED and reported upon by a member of Ms. Sheila Fraser’s staff.
The allegations, contained in many notes, are that some MPs are using their rental accommodation allowance to “lease†units in the Ottawa area which they actually end up owning. Of course (what else?), I am accused of masterminding this scheme.
Meanwhile I hauled my butt into dangerous downtown Toronto Sunday morning to do a live interview on this MP perqs situation with CBC Newsworld. Interestingly enough in that interview, as with one this morning for a London talk radio station, the focus shifted from MPs using taxpayer money to buy real estate (my big beef) to the fact there are things like per diems for meal expenses at all.
And that is an excellent debate to take place. Personally, having never filed for a per diem, I actually don’t know what they’re for. I buy my groceries at the Loeb on Ridout Street, and come home and cook them. The money I buy my groceries with comes out of the take-home pay from my $150,000 MP salary (I gross $13,000 and change a month and have $7,000 left after taxes).
Why other MPs think they need $75 a day to eat is beyond me. And I believe those voters who would like to be given $75 each morning to gas up their vehicles, or to pay for the day care, or buy a few days’ food for the entire family, would find it beyond them, too. So perhaps this is a good time to ensure the politicians we elect are living in the real world (as much as that’s possible), and the Board of Internal Economy should act accordingly. Yes, I think it’s time meal money was toast.
Of course, and then there’s staff…
You might as well call that bump on the landscape in Ottawa, Blackberry Hill, since just about every staffer is trotting around with one of these expensive and addictive devices in his hand. All paid for by you. Staff also get every statutory holiday known to man – in fact, recently just about all Parliamentary staff celebrated St. Jean the Baptist Day in Quebec (the nationalist holiday there), and then rolled that right into a long Canada Day weekend. (But not Gisele and Amal, much to their delight.)
MPs staff are supported by House of Commons staff, who are just a phone call away. And staff for ministers come in squadrons. I have seen (often) a minister walk out of the House of Commons into the lobby after QP, and hand his briefing book to a waiting assistant, who then hands it to an assistant of his, standing at his side. Then they all head off to a limo outside, perfectly cooled by a driver who’s had the A/C maxed out.
It would all be kind of comical, if it weren’t.
This new government has an historic opportunity to sweep aside the pretense of governing, along with a lot of the symbolically wasteful spending that so characterized the Liberals. It’s time MPs were citizen-politicians again, not career leaders expecting special treatment. And more than anything, we need to find ways people will come once again to respect those who stand for office – one of the most truly daunting experiences possible.
Maybe then jerkos like the one blasting me all day will get a life.
31 comments ↓
Great post Garth…still think you should consider a switch to the riding I live in…then again, I suppose I could always move. I don’t think the hog trough is an only an issue on Parliament Hill. We have more than enough municipal politicians doing the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale.
And as for you NC Smith…nice to see you have finally dropped that “retired whatever you were crap”. Anyways, after a few days of sunshine, sand, water and beers, i am back.
I hope it is not Rona Ambroses limo idleing with the a/c blasting. What kind of a message would that be sending about our environment? Rona should get on a commitee to stop the wasteful consumption of gas and the pollutents and make the limos wait with the engines shut off. What is the budget for fuel for this whole fleet of limos?
If the $75. is in addition to the $20k living allowance,I agree with you.
I believe that we must reasonably support MP’s in Ottawa because they are paying for a normal family living expense in their home riding.But a tax free allowance plus a per diem is a little crazy.If they travel ouside Ottawa then a per diem or meal expenses is reasonable.
Saint Garth,
This meal allowance is a red herring!
If you want to go after MPs compensation, why not go after the lucrative MP pensions? You will probably find that the meal allowance is peanuts compared to pension largesse.
Garth, what you are describing is a typical business executive situation. Sure they make 100K plus and there is no doubt that is a good salary, however, whenever they are out of town they sleep and eat on their company’s tab. I wish I could eat in Ottawa for $75 per day. It ain’t gonna happen! Arguably, MPs are “out of town” since they travel to Ottawa to represent their consitutents back near their “home office”. I have no issue with a per diem and if those funds are going to be paid anyways, what difference does it make to the taxpayer how they are spent? If we ever move to taking away the perks of our elected representatives; I’m not sure I’m gonna welcome the quality of the candidates that we will end up getting. It will be lowest common denominator for sure.
“And more than anything, we need to find ways people will come once again to respect those who stand for office……â€
I will respect those who stand for office when they begin to behave respectfully, both toward one another and toward the people of this country.
The only reason people are offended by the perqs and extravagances MPs currently enjoy is the perception that they are not deserved. Hell, I wouldn’t care if MPS had scantily dressed young ladies scattering rose petals in their paths if they EARNED it.
A few recommendations for regaining respect…..
1. Truth instead of lies and misdirection.
2. REAL solutions rather than political solutions.
3. Put the interests of the COUNTRY ahead of the interests of the PARTY (or their own pocketbooks).
Try applying the above and you might just grab the attention of the 35% of registered voters who are so disgusted with politicians that they refuse to participate in the farcical performances we call elections. That’s where the real potential for winning a majority government lies.
The MP’s $75 per diem meal allowance is hard to stomach for most Canadians who eat adequately for a fraction of that. For perspective, in BC, someone working full time 50 weeks per year at the minimum wage will earn $16K – that’s $11K per year less than an MP’s meal allowance. From Stats Can, the average Canadian family spends approx $500 per month on food. So an MP’s per diem could feed approx. 4.5 Canadian families for one year.
Perceptions mean a lot. The hard working so-called middle class is deeply offended when they hear of folks – private industry or politicians – ripping off the system, or earning grossly more than they deserve. That MP’s are advised by their party to spend their per diem (or presumably any surplus of it) on their mortgage payment, is profoundly insulting.
The only possible good thing about the per diem – it removes the opportunity for MP’s to habitually accept free meals from anyone and everyone who needs a favour from them.
I wanted to applaud your gesture of exposing these facts to the public and hope you will raise the issue in the fall when the House starts again and when the majority of Canadians will be back from the cottage….
I truly hope that something can be done to stop this is an insult to the average canadian….
thanks again,
mjp
Hi Garth. Looks like the B of C decided to leave their rate unchanged, so prime is still sitting at 6%, and the loonie has also taken a slight tumble given the news.
I know you had predicted an increase, and I know that such predictions are very difficult to make, but given the latest news, I would be interested in your thoughts moving forward from here and your expectations for the bank’s next couple of meetings.
Any insights you would care to share would be greatly appreciated, as usual.
Try applying the above and you might just grab the attention of the 35% of registered voters who are so disgusted with politicians that they refuse to participate in the farcical performances we call elections.
ALW, I think I like you, but you keep insisting on trying on those rose colored glasses. I don’t disagree with you but, back to pragmatism and reality…
From the beginning of my political awareness:
Andy Brewin (MP when I was around 18) in the House of Commons voted against the Death Penalty in spite of polling his constituents and finding a majority in favor. (my suggestion if you don’t like the answer, don’t ask the question.)
Robert Stanfield campaigning on Wage and Price controls, then being ridiculed by Trudeau and the Liberals. Guess what happened?
Joe Clark bringing in a budget that raised gas prices. Trudeau and the Liberals ridiculed that policy, too. Guess what happened, again?
Chretien campaigning on “Killing the GST”, and abrogating the Free Trade Agreement. Guess what happened, yet again?
Canadians don’t appear to give a damn about honest politicians who are principled.
We are told that we can hold governments to account at the ‘next’ general election. But in all these examples a fraud was perpetrated on the electorate, and our collective memories seemed to vanish at the next election.
The thing I find the funniest is how the Liberals manage to be the “Natural Ruling Party”. How the hell do you know what you are going to get when you elect them? Promises, Platform, and Principles mean nothing to them.
Given that this is the framework under which we choose to elect governments, how the heck do we elect someone who is honest and forthright? The guys that campaign that way usually finish last.
I think for once, those of us in Halton may have just gotten it right. Now, how about all you other ridings out there…
Hey Ed:
No rose coloured glasses here. I don’t actually expect anyone to take that “honesty and integrity” stuff seriously. We’re talking about politics after all.
I’m not delusional, just pissed off.
I don’t know about you but I didn’t choose the current framework we use to elect governments. That framework was created by government for government. It’s high time for some democratric reform. Were using a system of government that very nearly predates the invention of gunpowder for cryin’ out loud. No delusions on that count either. I don’t expect any substantive reforms from the current bunch … but I reserve the right to bitch about it.
“I think for once, those of us in Halton may have just gotten it right.” Yeah, that pisses me off too!
I remain … not from Halton.
ALW
Ed Brooks, please don’t take this the wrong way (I am not dissing Garth)…. Tell us what has Garth done or not done that the other Conservative MPs haven’t done?
Dear Garth Turner,
I didn’t vote Reform–I mean Conservative–and I”m certainly not a Harper supporter (I cancelled my PC membership when Harper took over), but if I were in your riding, I’d sure consider voting for you. How unusual to find an MP who actually knows what integrity is and isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even when it conflicts with the party line. The world needs more mavericks like you.
All the best,
David Clenman
British Columbia
Catherine,
I think that’s a pretty easy question to answer.
How much communication have you had from your MP since the election? How often has your representative asked for your opinion? How often has your MP stood up for a principle and said what most of us are thinking.
To date, Garth has given me exactly what I expected of him after voting for him at the candidate nomination meeting.
Garth is giving voice to a lot of the things that I believe in. I believe this is the first time in over 30 years that I can say that.
ALW,
The funny thing about all the ranters on all the blogs:
you would think that there exists some where, some pure society where people adhere to promises, policies, and all matter of what not.
How much faux rage is expressed? Oh, the shock, the horror, of the “Insert political party name here”, (depending on whether you are Liberal or Conservative.)
Wasted energy, wasted passion, if you ask me. Waste of space… It can be amusing though.
How about honest debate about real issues:
We worship at the altar of our Health Care system, what ever that is. We pour vast amounts of money in to it. If anyone touches it, 30 million people throw a fit.
Can’t privatize anything, but hey if you are a Liberal in Ontario, you can delist a service (eye exams for example), and damn nobody complains.
How about a debate on native land claims? No one responds to me on that one. I say no more, not a single land claim. Let the native population ‘immigrate’ into our country and integrate like a hundred other cultures have done. We did a horrible wrong by putting these people on reserves, they should have been assimilated. We can’t fix it by giving them billions of dollars. I’ll re-consider if the Anglo-Saxons return Scotland to the Picts…
But no there is none of that. We rant and we rave about Harpo and Cretin, and the Lieberals. Blowing off steam, but not accomplishing much else. It’s a form of amusing entertainment. Beats reruns…
Ed, well my MP has asked us for our opinions… he’s kept us informed… but he doesn’t have a blog. So what?
Don’t get me wrong, Garth may be meeting with a select few in his riding and bringing us a tourist view of the Hill through his web site. However, his budget document was not different than what was being presented in platform and other MPs meet with their constituents. So, he is not someone that should be put on a pedestal and worshipped. He is simply an MP who uses this web site to espouse his interest in financial matters. His web site doesn’t really touch on other areas of public interest – like the environment or foreign policy or health care….
According to the HoC Hansard, Garth spoke up a few times (during the budget debate) and voted the same way as the other Conservative MPs. He didn’t present any petitions on behalf of his constituents. He didn’t make any statements (whether praising or presenting any concerns) on behalf of his constituents. So please tell us again, how he is any different than some of the other MPs?
How am I different? Because not many other MPs would tell you this: B-u-z-z 0-f-f, Catherine. Go and give your valued insights to your own MP on his blog. Cheers! — Garth
Ed:
The problem with getting an honest debate about real issues going here is that the blog format really doesn’t support it. Your reference to native land claims is a good example. I said essentially the same thing a couple of weeks ago but only one person picked up on it before Garth’s next blog entry pulled things in another direction. Once something is a couple of pages back it’s pretty much history.
The promised forum seems to have evaporated since I can find no mention of it at all on the site anymore. That would have been the ideal setting to get some serious stuff going.
I’d love to get into the health care debate. It would be interesting to sweep the partisan nonsense out of the way and actually look at the system itself. My wife has been part of that system for 35 years and from her perspective the real problems are created by the politicians with MD, BScN and RN following their names. The cost of professional turf wars and empire building is a major contributor to the cost of health care. We seldom hear about that because it doesn’t lend itself to partisan party bashing.
And finally………..
“you would think that there exists some where, some pure society where people adhere to promises, policies, and all matter of what not.â€
It does exist. It’s called an “ideal†damn it. I realize having ideals is old fashioned but I’ve never been a slave to fashion.
Reruns? Who needs reruns? We got DVDs man! I just watched the Prisoner episode where No6 runs for political office. Garth should watch this one. It would probably give him nightmares.
I am a Soilder with two tours overseas and going again in 2008. I have a wife 3 kids and a fourth on its way(Dec 18). 75$ a day for meals, for MP’s angers me. Even more now that they can pay down there house with it. I know you guys work hard but so do I and many other Canadians. I am lucky if I have 350$ a month to put food on the table for my whole family. I don’t think I am the only one in this situation. I know my family is large and I am not asking for anymore money. I just wish money like the meal claim was spent else where. Maybe on making gas cheeper.
Thanks for your time
Cheers!
Garth you Rock! Wish you where my MP
IT GETS WORSE…!
A couple of sites I’ve looked at suggest that in Canada, per diems are tax free. If that’s true, the MP’s $75 per diem is now more like approx. $45K to $50K per year for an actual working person, who’d have to pay fed and prov tax on it.
Please, please, please, tell me I’m wrong…!
BTW, who else in Ottawa gets a generous per diem? Do senators get one?
Marie-the majority of Canadians don’t go the cottage!
steve – per diems are normally tax free.
fyi – they are quite common in the private sector. frankly, i don’t see what the big deal is all about. it’s not like they’re claiming $75 x 365 days, and what they spend their $ on is their business.
Mike:
You’re right. What they spend their $ on is their business.
It’s what they are doing with MY $ that concerns me.
“Because not many other MPs would tell you this: B-u-z-z 0-f-f, Catherine. Go and give your valued insights to your own MP on his blog.”
Nice Garth, I’m guess you are practicing your version of “democracry in action”.
You’ll accept kissy, kissy, sucky, sucky hero worshipping compliments from across Canada – but, won’t accept facts being presented.
BTW: unless your blog is restricted to your worshippers, anyone can post to it. If you do restrict it, then it will just prove our point, that you do not believe in “open democracy”, just solitations for praising you.
BTW: my MP is a Minister and your caucus colleague
And he and his work is quite admirable.
I am happy for you both. Does he have a “democracry in action” site you can depart for? — Garth
Geez, Catherine, I think you’d be taken a lot more seriously if you didn’t have to be so dog-goned obstreperous in your tone.
Asking how is Garth different from other MPs is just plain silly. Anybody who reads this blog without a snippy chip on their shoulder knows the answer to that one.
Of course you can e-mail your MP with a question or your opinions, but an open forum allows many viewpoints to be presented. Democracy is healthier for the open debate. You can pretend not to see that from your perch but I don’t think your faux blindness is fooling anybody.
Cheers
You are right Doug, I guess Garth’s demeaning attitude towards his colleagues got the better of me. Man, I wouldn’t want to be his constituent and be on the other side of an issue.
I would like to see some positive comments on this forum about his colleagues (even from other parties) – as many MPs do work hard and do produce good work – like how the NDP worked with the Conservative on the Accountability Act. While some may be critical of some aspects of the Act, this Act does address key problem areas.
Having said that, if this forum is going to be a forum for congratulating Garth and demeaning others, then, maybe Garth needs to rethink the purpose of this forum.
Garth, how about starting a discussion on your thoughts and ideas about solutions for our environment. I’m sure that our air quality is a topic that all Canadians can participate. From all that I’m reading, environment will be one of the next big focus areas by the Conservative government.
Adjective: obstreperous “ub’ strepurus” …Noisily and stubbornly defiant.
My new word for the day…thanks Doug.
My MP is a Minister and you’re not- na na na.And he does good things too!
So go surf his blog.
You are welcome ALW. It’s a word my mother used to throw at me when I was little and I didn’t know what it meant for many years.
For Catherine: Good points. I was quite pleased to see the NDP make a contribution to the Accountability bill. I actually enjoyed Garth’s webtv interview with Jack Layton. I am sure Jack appreciated the exposure because even as he firmly presented his views, he was ever the gentleman in doing it. My kind of debater. And… Ah, yes the environment. That is really going to be a biggie. I just hope we can nudge the debate more towards the factual and keep clear of acrimonious finger pointing.
At least I hope we can.
Cheers.
Garth;
Have a read of IT-91R available for download from the CCRA website. This Interpretation bulletin sets out quite clearly the requirements to allow for a tax free per diem. I don’t think politicos like MPs qualify under this interpretation bulletin, at any time.
When I worked for the Geological Survey years ago, we received a per diem for food when we were on the road. We billed our hotel rooms to the Govt of Canada directly, via purchase order. We received no other compensation other than what our contract pay scales dictated. The amount paid was just enough to do three meals in a day – $18.50 at a restaurant.
What makes MP’s so special, especially while in Ottawa, that you should receive any more tax free money other than your salaries and other tax free expenses that you currently receive, to run your day to day operations? You certainly are not “businesses” or conducting “business” to earn income while in Ottawa. In most cases, all you guys and gals do is “spend” my money that you taxed away to put in your pocket, it would seem from this post.
Makes me wonder why I continue to voluntarily pay my taxes.
Doug
Not my pocket, Doug. — Garth
Adjective: obstreperous “ub’ strepurus†…Noisily and stubbornly defiant.
My new word for the day…thanks Doug.
ALW, I have to use my Firefox browser extention ( Dictionary Search ) all the time on this site just to follow some of these posts.
obstreperous, sheesh
I have to say Catherine, your posts make me laugh my ass off. You should get out and enjoy the sunshine or something already.
If you’ve been following this blog (and CLEARLY you are a slavish devotee despite the invective and the childish NYAH NYAH my MP’s a Minister and you’re not oooh ahhh), you’d also know that Garth has devoted large segments of MPTV interviewing politicians of all stripes.
And far from being a kissy-kissy Garth Turner fan club, he’s been blasted by plenty of people on here and isn’t afraid to confront unpopular views and ideas head on.
Frankly Catherine, I think you’re jealous! {snicker}