Federal public servants at Transport Canada are routinely filing millions of dollars in expenses – including overtime, salaries and computers – toward a construction project that doesn't exist.I imagine Transport Minister John Baird will sadly be sleep-deprived for tomorrow. Pity, because he'll need his wits about him (all two).
Further, The Globe and Mail has learned that public servants who object to the scheme are routinely overruled by their managers.
...
Documents released through access-to-information requests list the expenses, which total $10.7-million since 2004. Expenses continued to be billed to the pipeline project this year.
What's more, government documents show Transport Canada managers insisted employees bill all expenses to the fund for any travel that is loosely in the area of the proposed pipeline – listing 23 communities in the Northwest Territories as “Mackenzie Valley locations.” When employees noted their trips to the region had nothing to do with the pipeline, they were told that Transport Canada headquarters approved the use of the fund based on geography.
Shall we start the scandal naming now, folks? Vote and contribute in comments, please!
1) Pipeline to Nowhere?
2) Pipe-dreamy accounting?
3) Pipescam?
4) Put that on the pipe and smokescreen it?
5) Other (but not Pipegate; too easy)
Wow. Between this and the earlier confirmation that Clement came down hard on Ablonczy to ensure no
(h/t to Montreal Simon)
- 30 -
1 comment:
Yeah, they are spending so much money on something that does not exist. There are so many ways the money could have been used and they are just doing this. Oh well. Anyway, I vote for the option No. 1 - Pipeline to nowhere?
Ella
Post a Comment