Taxpayers paying Tory tab — what poppycock!
Posted by Sandy on 16th June 2008
The anti-conservative bias in the Canadian media over the last few days seems to be just plain petty, if not downright misleading. For example, Kevin Donovan suggests in today’s Toronto Star that Canadian taxpayers are picking up Tory ministerial expenses so that the party can raise money. If that were true I would be all over the government’s case as well because I too expect accountability. But, to suggest that it is always wrong when federal members of parliament — no matter which political party they represent — combine public duties with party duties, is clearly over the top.
For example, Donovan writes:
“When then-Indian affairs minister Jim Prentice flew to Nova Scotia to meet with provincial chiefs, he headlined a Conservative fundraising dinner in Prince Edward Island. Taxpayers paid for the trip.And when Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn jetted off from a Quebec fisheries forum to attend a government meeting in Manitoba, he also guest-starred at a local Tory fundraising banquet. The federal Conservatives – elected on promises to be squeaky clean – are using government resources to help fill their election war chest.”
I will repeat what Donovan said: “The federal Conservatives — elected on promises to be squeaky clean — are using government resources to help fill their election war chest.” What misleading poppycock and a non sequitur!
What exactly is the Star suggesting? That when any federal parliamentarian travels anywhere in Canada on business he or she can’t do anything else why he or she is there? Does that also apply to Liberal Leader Stephen Dion and NDP Leader Jack Layton? Does that mean that if Dion travels the country this summer, he can never speak to party officials while he is travelling — because to do so would be the same as being subsidized by the taxpayers? Because, if the government is ”not squeaky clean” when they combine events, then neither is the opposition. Who holds them accountable? The Toronto Star? The Parliamentary Press Gallery? (PPG)
Posted in Conservative Gov't, Finance & Taxation, Media Bias | 15 Comments »