"After the fact" contracting...

 

Finance Minister Joe Oliver comes under fire this week over revelations his office broke federal rules when it paid $9,209 for two speeches written by Guy Giorno — Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff and Conservative party legal adviser.

 

Its rather rich that David McGuinty is leading the call for these questions…. PS’s reminding politicians about the code of ethics?  It must just be a giant coincidence….. COZ Posted February 19, 2015

 

 

 

How did the tiny town of Blind River, Ont., come to invest millions of taxpayer dollars in Ottawa’s Plasco Energy Group?

 

Following the path of the money, leads to further questions, including whether there was sufficient oversight for a program that was part of the federal government’s Economic Action Plan.

 

When she was re-elected in October 2014, Blind River’s Mayor Jensen, who is also director with the municipally owned North Shore Power Group, told the Elliot Lake Standard that "addressing debt was a priority for the town.” The mayor invests 230% of the town ANNUAL GROSS REVENUES into Plasco and then it goes belly up! It seems like a textbook case of moral hazard.    COZ Posted March 02, 2015
 

 

 

Parliamentary Budget Office sounds warning over billions in federal lending

 

Canada’s budget watchdog is studying the “prodigious” growth of federal lending through Crown corporations and other agencies, now totalling more than $200 billion, with little scrutiny from public servants or Parliament.

 

The government has historically always had loans, but the portfolio was small, especially compared with overall budgetary spending. Loans have grown significantly as the government has cut jobs and programs in the public service. In fact, the size of the loan portfolio, at about $211 billion, is getting close to the $250 billion that government spends every year. - Is the plan to slash and burn at home so that they can spend like drunken sailors abroad?  
 
Parliament votes on “non-budgetary” expenditures, but they don’t get the same rigorous examination of other spending that Parliament reviews every year... These expenditures are approved by Parliament, but they don’t expire at the end of the year like spending on programs and services delivered by departments. – So spending on Canada gets more ‘scrutiny’ than lending abroad?  We are so owned and now we know where the money is going!  COZ March 02, 2015

 

 

 

Revision of Ontario’s Health and Physical Education curriculum

 

MP Cheryl Gallant sparked controversy when she suggested Ontario’s updated sex-education curriculum puts children at risk of predators.  

 

Hard to figure this one out... is this "factual statements", "foot in mouth", "fear mongering" or "fanatical religious extremism"?   HOY March 05, 2015

 

 

 

CHEO cuts to make up budget shortfall

 

The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario said it plans to cut up to 50 positions to meet an $6.7-million shortfall in its 2015/16 budget.

 

CHEO spokeswoman Eva Schacherl states that the hospital "expects that most of these reductions will be accomplished by attrition, voluntary retirement and reassignment... this is not going to mean closing clinics and there will be no closing of beds... there will be no increase in wait time or a reduction of access to services for families and patients.”

 

Whew... don't you feel better already... less doctors, nurses and support staff to assist in the management of sick people at CHEO and the taxpayer will see no discernable difference in the quality or timeliness of health care delivery!  All is well in la la land!   HOY March 23, 2015

 

 

 

Adversity Turned Into Opportunity

 

His name is Garry Brownrigg, founder and CEO of Quicksilver. His story of adversity began in 1984...

 

Cozberhoy wishes to offer a tip of our hat to this very determined and ethical gentleman!   HOY March 23, 2015