The Queen Bee is Not Amused! -- And More Patronage Plums
Adrienne was a JC political appointment and his daughter looks as though she'll benefit from Daddy's position, as well. (See below this first article.) Then there is the never-ending sluicing of taxpayer money to JC's riding. Same old. Same old.
Ottawa — Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson defended a proposed state visit abroad that could cost $1-million and has invited parliamentarians to investigate the way she spends taxpayer money.
"We know we spend public money," Ms. Clarkson told CBC Newsworld during a series of interviews yesterday. "No problem if they want to look at how we do it."
She was reacting to calls from MPs on a parliamentary committee that oversees the public purse for a probe into her office's estimated $19-million budget.
The estimated $1-million price tag for her three-week state visit, which departs next week for Russia, Finland and Iceland with 59 Canadians, has incensed some MPs on the parliamentary committee on government operations and estimates.
[. . . .]
But she said she would not appear before the committee because she is "above politics."
"I am above politics," she told Newsworld. "And I don't mean to be above politics, I am above politics."
[. . . .]
Early yesterday, committee member and Canadian Alliance MP Ken Epp said the Governor-General must be held to account. "We're looking at the Governor-General in terms of unfettered unaccountable spending," . . .
[. . . .]
[NDP MP Pat Martin] said the budget has been increased to about $19-million from $11-million — an increase of more than 60 per cent — since Ms. Clarkson took the job. "There's an absolute zero tolerance among Canadians right now that even hints at excess," Mr. Martin said.
[. . . .]
The Governor-General's office has said its officials wouldn't explain the trips to Iceland, Finland and Russia because they are state visits taken at the request of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and financed by the department.
My Commentary:
So there! The Queen has spoken! Noblesse oblige! She did deign to speak to CBC, her old stomping ground. For that, Canadian taxpayers should be grateful -- and continue to pay and pay and pay.
Patronage
More patronage from the same source that appointed Adrienne Queen Bee. It looks as though JC's daughter France Chretien-Demarais--married into the wealthy Desmarais, Power Corp of Canada family--has a good chance of getting a plumb position on--or is it chairing?--the 2010 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee.
Shawinigan is getting an expensive horse show compliments of the taxpayers of Canada -- $165, 000,000. And JC sluiced another load of Canadians' tax dollars to Quebec -- to his riding!
