DonLever Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 From Huffington Post: OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that the government will review a program that allows former governors general to regularly file six-figure expenses. Trudeau reacted to a National Post report that former governor general Adrienne Clarkson has claimed more than $1.1 million in office expenses since she left the position in 2005. The program has existed since 1979 and Clarkson has billed the government more than $100,000 in expenses in nine fiscal years, according to the report. "We're going to take a look at what best practices could be in terms of supporting people who've served Canada in the viceregal capacity," Trudeau said. "These are people who've stepped up and offered a tremendous service to the country, but Canadians expect a certain level of transparency and accountability and we're going to make sure that we're moving forward in a thoughtful way." The program allows former governors general to bill the government for administrative support related to their previous role. On top of the expenses, Clarkson also receives a government pension. It's an amount that's significant considering the salary Clarkson collected during her last year in office was $137,500 tax-free. It's unclear what most of the expenses was spent on. HuffPost Canada has reached out to Clarkson for comment. A former journalist, Clarkson was appointed by Jean Chretien in 1999. Her spending habits repeatedly raised eyebrows when she was a Rideau Hall and after. Her post-Rideau Hall six-figure expenses for administration costs first began to raise flags in 2011. A Rideau Hall spokeswoman told the Toronto Star at the time that "actual and reasonable expenses of secretarial and temporary help services are reimbursed to former governors general." Speaking gigs and opportunities to participate in charitable ventures often follow former governor generals after they leave office. Her 2004 tour of Russia, Iceland, and Finland became a topic of debate in the House of Commons after costs for Clarkson and her delegation of 59 people jumped from $1 million to $5.3 million. The trip's purpose was to promote Canadian culture in the three countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeydew Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Wow $5.3 million dollar trip to promote Canadian culture in three countries? You've gotta be kidding me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drive-By Body Pierce Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Government makes me angry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DADDYROCK Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Typical politician. spends the tax payers money with no mind of what good that kind of money could do for retirees and veterans. Sounds like a program that should be scraped but probably never will.The poor could really use that kind of help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 4 hours ago, Honeydew said: Wow $5.3 million dollar trip to promote Canadian culture in three countries? You've gotta be kidding me. Now translate that to 2018 money and she spent nearly $7 million CAD. If she wanted to spread Canadian culture, she could have saved some cash by sending a maple syrup covered beaver holding a plate of poutine riding a moose led by a mountie to each country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 1 hour ago, SabreFan1 said: Now translate that to 2018 money and she spent nearly $7 million CAD. If she wanted to spread Canadian culture, she could have saved some cash by sending a maple syrup covered beaver holding a plate of poutine riding a moose led by a mountie to each country. @SabreFan1, you should know better. That's not what our culture is all about. Sure, it's our average Friday night, but not what we stand for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Nobody is held accountable in this country so spend whatever you want and if the peasants have a problem with it - tough $&!#. The politicians anyway for sure.This country is not nearly as great as some Americans think it is. It's just as corrupt and shameful as the U.S., but on about 1/10 of the scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Any relation to David Clarkson? 7 hours ago, DonLever said: "These are people who've stepped up and offered a tremendous service to the country, but Canadians expect a certain level of transparency and accountability and we're going to make sure that we're moving forward in a thoughtful way." She really stepped up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Strome Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Heard this story yesterday, apparently a former GG who has been gone for 34 years still bills the tax payers. It gets worse unless the billing is over 100,000 no one hears about it. We shouldn't even have a GG nor should we give money to the monarchy and we shouldn't be part of the commonwealth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 This country needs to leave the commonwealth in the worst possible way. Positions like the governor general are pointless and have no value to the average Canadian. That parasite Adrienne Clarkson has stolen enough from the average Canadian in her elitist tenure. Allowing former governmental employees to leech off of government coffers after they have left their position is insulting to the populace and should be discontinued immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 19 minutes ago, Ryan Strome said: Heard this story yesterday, apparently a former GG who has been gone for 34 years still bills the tax payers. It gets worse unless the billing is over 100,000 no one hears about it. We shouldn't even have a GG nor should we give money to the monarchy and we shouldn't be part of the commonwealth. If Ireland was able to do it when they were under direct British rule, we should be able to do it now. There is no point, outside of some misguided and nostalgic ideal, to remain in a pointless commonwealth. I love Britain as a country and all the wonderful culture, music, and arts that have come from there, but I hate the monarchy and it's antiquated uselessness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Strome Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 5 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said: If Ireland was able to do it when they were under direct British rule, we should be able to do it now. There is no point, outside of some misguided and nostalgic ideal, to remain in a pointless commonwealth. I love Britain as a country and all the wonderful culture, music, and arts that have come from there, but I hate the monarchy and it's antiquated uselessness. Canada could easily do it and it will likely get done in 10 to 20 years but as of now there is still to many older folks that support it. While in opposition the liberals held a party vote on scrapping the monarchy and if passed would have been party policy. Unfortunately it was defeated but I'm certain in the future people will push our governments to get out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 1 minute ago, Ryan Strome said: Canada could easily do it and it will likely get done in 10 to 20 years but as of now there is still to many older folks that support it. While in opposition the liberals held a party vote on scrapping the monarchy and if passed would have been party policy. Unfortunately it was defeated but I'm certain in the future people will push our governments to get out of it. I certainly hope it comes up again for debate and decision. It's high time Canada leave these tired and pointless institutions in the dust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Strome Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 1 minute ago, PhillipBlunt said: I certainly hope it comes up again for debate and decision. It's high time Canada leave these tired and pointless institutions in the dust. I mean look where the GG lives. On the backs of the tax payers. What a waste of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 3 minutes ago, Ryan Strome said: I mean look where the GG lives. On the backs of the tax payers. What a waste of money. Truly wasteful. It's the same pretension, pomp, and circumstance that the royal (pain in the ass) family demand. There is no reason for Canadians to support this type of lavish opulence, when there are people struggling to get by all over the country. The governor general and their cronies should be summarily evicted and less fortunate people should be given the free room and board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldoescobar Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Not surprised.... More tax payers money being wasted. I wonder if it is similar with former provincial LGs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Surprise! Politicians waste money. Happens to every government regardless of political stripe. Maybe if failure standards were brought in. Or Politicians were paid partly in Savings Bonds. That way the better the country does, the more their bonds go up in value. Politicians think of what will the news say next week. They never look at the long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 It's true that a lot of these positions are needlessly expensive, but Clarkson is pretty much legendary for excess. I remember one of the Canadian skit comedies (This Hour has 22 minutes, or Kids In the Hall) used to mock her on a regular basis. The running gag was a guy dressed up as AC and saying "I'm Adrienne Clarkson and you're not!", while tossing a feather boa over his/her shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 I don't mind Clarkson going, but what the hell were the other 58 people doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 5 hours ago, SabreFan1 said: Now translate that to 2018 money and she spent nearly $7 million CAD. If she wanted to spread Canadian culture, she could have saved some cash by sending a maple syrup covered beaver holding a plate of poutine riding a moose led by a mountie to each country. which would be awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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