Another pig at the trough

[Yogi]

The president of the Royal Canadian Mint has resigned in a bid to clear his name after reports of high expenses in his office. Government documents indicate David Dingwall and his top aides racked up total office expenses of more than $740,000 last year.

Included were over $130,000 dollars in foreign and domestic travel, $14,000 in meals and $11,000 in hospitality..........
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/09/28/dingwall_resigns_20050928.html

[Just Doug1]

$11G's for "entertainment"!?!?!?!

What were their names?

[Tim]

perhaps... Chip... and Dale?
;)

[Just Doug1]

Ugh!

[Tim]

damn leftie ****...
;)

[Walter]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/09/28/dingwall_resigns_20050928.html

This is common practice among politicians and there was a recent get together held by the provincial liberals that is no less questionable. But I am sure that if we did a forensic audit of expenses even the tories and ndp would have questionable expenses. If the parties are funding this from their party budget that is the business of the party and its supporters but when people do it at taxpayer expense it borders on mis-appropriation of funds.

[Tim]

This is common practice among politicians and there was a recent get together held by the provincial liberals that...

must.... take.... swipe.... at.... liberals.... at .....all....costs....can't....stop.....myself....f rom.....posting.....in....a...thread....about ....something....else.....must .....swipe......the......*&^^%$ing.......LIBERALS!!!! DAMN THEM!!!!!

[Bogie]

Such is a time of a sweet golden pot. There are so much in the way of tax dollars flowing in that it becomes irresistable - it burns a hole in the government pockets. This would most likely happen to any party in power, but especially to one so long in power - and to one that knows we have no alternative in the near future. We have given them a blank signed chequebook (or should I say a Golden ATM card?).

[Yogi]

...and to add insult to injury:


OTTAWA (CP) - David Dingwall is poised to receive a government severance package after resigning as head of the Royal Canadian Mint amid allegations of lavish spending and questionable lobbying practices.

The government is considering a financial settlement for the one-time Liberal cabinet minister, Revenue Minister John McCallum said Thursday.

An outraged opposition condemned the potential deal but the government defended the move as standard procedure.

"This is not unusual," McCallum said. "The details of this are being worked out - no decision has been made."

He said privacy laws prevent him from discussing potential details of Dingwall's severance pay.

"All I can say is that anything he might receive in that regard is standard for a person in his situation."

Dingwall quit after it was reported that he and top aides racked up expenses of more than $740,000 last year for everything from a BMW car allowance to a $1.29 pack of gum.

Mint guidelines allowed Dingwall to spend up to $1,000 per month on a personal vehicle. A quick scan of the guidelines failed to uncover a policy on chewing gum.

The Conservatives accused Prime Minister Paul Martin of breaking his promise to end cronyism "come hell or high water."

"A year ago the prime minister was saying he wanted to get to the bottom of all the wrongdoing," said Tory MP Brian Pallister.

"(Now) he's nominating David Dingwall for the Order of Canada. What the heck happened?

"It seems he's only a proponent of cleaning things up when he can send the bill to Jean Chretien . . . This is his dirty laundry."

The Tories have called for an auditor general's investigation into the affair.

Dingwall has also been under fire for acting as an unregistered lobbyist prior to his 2003 appointment as president and chief executive of the mint. It has been reported that he agreed to accept $350,000 to help a pharmaceutical company secure grants under Technology Partnerships Canada. On top of that, the law forbids lobbying for grants under the partnerships program.

In addition to any severance pay, Dingwall is eligible for a $77,200 pension from his 15 years as an MP, according to calculations by the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation.

The government and mint workers have rallied to Dingwall's defence.

The union representing workers said Dingwall was worth every cent of his $740,000 expense account. He helped drag the mint back to profitability since taking over in 2003.

McCallum joined Prime Minister Paul Martin and other members of the Liberal government in lauding Dingwall's work.

"(I) am grateful to David Dingwall for the great job he did, not only financially, but it's also clear he strengthened the morale and the pride of the organization," McCallum said.

"I think that's reflected in the comment of the union leader who said Mr. Dingwall was worth every penny he got. So he clearly did a very good job at the mint."

His good performance would not excuse Dingwall if he broke any rules - but there's no proof of any wrongdoing, McCallum said.

In 2003, disgraced privacy commissioner George Radwanski had his $82,562 severance package reduced to zero. The penalty was restitution for outstanding cash advances, inflated travel and hospitality expenses and improper vacation pay while he was privacy commissioner.

[Just Doug1]

It's sad to watch current government apologists accept the squandering of cash.

[Mouse]

Is one of these guys Dingwall??

[Tim]

well let's vote the tories in so they can squander cash to their cronies next.

[Athlon_9800]

must.... take.... swipe.... at.... liberals.... at .....all....costs....can't....stop.....myself....f rom.....posting.....in....a...thread....about ....something....else.....must .....swipe......the......*&^^%$ing.......LIBERALS!!!! DAMN THEM!!!!!

Hahahaha....