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The Entitled Greed, Corruption or Incompetence |
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Council offers to take pay cut ARVIAT - Hamlet councillors in Arviat, Nunavut, are offering to sacrifice their honorariums as they try to deal with a growing operational deficit. (CBC)
Bureaucrats' wireless costs out of control OTTAWA - Cellphone and BlackBerry use at a major federal department has been out of control, with costs skyrocketing in a chaotic atmosphere, says a new audit. Natural Resources Canada failed to lay down any rules, lost track of the number of such devices, and let workers cut their own expensive service deals at a cost to taxpayers of up to $500,000 a year in wasted wireless spending. (CP)
Contractor skimmed Alberta Transportation EDMONTON - A former contractor for Alberta Transportation skimmed as much as $225,000 from the government through a complex series of subcontracts. (Edmonton Journal)
RM audit reveals suspicious spending RM of LA BROQUERIE - In a report released Thursday, auditor general Carol Bellringer also found the rural municipal government did not have appropriate internal controls for its day-to-day operations and was at times at odds with the Municipal Act, the legislation that lays out how local governments are to do business. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Purchase option focus of meeting OTTAWA - Rosdev Group, the government's biggest landlord, and Public Works have fought for more than a decade over the management of office buildings L'Esplanade Laurier in Ottawa and Les Terrasses de la Chaudière in Gatineau, which together house about 10,000 public servants. After years of acrimony, Public Works dumped Rosdev in 2004 as the buildings' property manager and took over running them. (Ottawa Citizen) PREVIOUS: Quebec adviser faces inquiry
OTTAWA - The wife of a former provincial Conservative party strategist has landed a patronage appointment with the federal government. Janice Sokolyk, a registered nurse, was appointed in December as the chairwoman of the Board of Referees for the Manitoba division of Employment Insurance in Winnipeg. (Winnipeg Free Press)
VERNON - Former Vernon mayor Sean Harvey was led out of a BC courtroom in handcuffs Tuesday after being handed two nine-month jail sentences for cheating his former business partner out of nearly $70,000. (CanWest) PREVIOUS: Ex-mayor pleads guilty
TORONTO - Two newly appointed members to $112,000 a year Immigration and Refugee Board positions are being summoned before an all-party committee to explain why they should keep their jobs despite calls for them to step down. (Sun Media) PREVIOUS: Salary Ranges and Performance pay for Appointees
City hall pays $1.7M in severance VICTORIA - The City of Victoria has paid $1.7 million in severance to non-union city staff dismissed without cause in the last three years. From December 2004 to September 2007, severance packages were given to 13 Victoria staff. But only five full-time positions were eliminated. Departments were restructured and many duties were reassigned. (Times Colonist) |
OTTAWA - William Baker, commissioner of the federal revenue-collecting department, laid out between $40,000 and $45,000 on the project last year, according to documents obtained under access-to-information legislation. (Toronto Star) PREVIOUS: CRA Board of Management
MONTREAL - Two public-relations firms with ties to Mayor Gerald Tremblay's political party have been retained by the city of Montreal to provide up to $2.25 million worth of support to the city's internal communications staff over the next three years. "It's reinforcement for the city," city spokesperson Isabelle Poulin said. The city's 92 public-relations personnel - 40 at the city level and 52 in the boroughs - are "generalists," she said. (Montreal Gazette)
OTTAWA - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is in an apparent conflict of interest because his wife and his executive assistant sit on the board of a project in his riding that is applying for federal funds. They said a $45-million government program appears to have been tailor-made to channel funds to construct an "abilities centre" in Whitby, Ont., whose board of directors includes Flaherty's wife, Christine Elliott, who is also the MPP for the provincial riding, and his executive assistant, Nancy Shaw. (CanWest)
Big cities controlling little ones to protect their green zone VANCOUVER - "People in Vancouver and Burnaby shouldn't have the right to take away the property rights of people in Maple Ridge," said Maple Ridge Mayor Gord Robson, whose city has 9.5% of Metro Vancouver's green zone. (Vancouver Province)
OTTAWA - Public sector employment reached nearly 3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, a gain of 2.5%, or 81,000, from the same quarter in 2006. (Statistics Canada) PREVIOUS: Hostility between politicians and PS hits new high, adviser says Advisory panel Managers need more tools to deal with poor performers
MONTREAL - Each Montreal municipal councillor gets about $14,000 a year as a tax-free allowance to cover out-of-pocket expenses, but the rules on what it should cover are so vague that many boroughs also are reimbursing councillors for such items as cellphone bills and parking. (Montreal Gazette)
New audit after study sounds alarms OTTAWA - The prime minister's own department has ordered a fresh investigation into the way it hands out contracts after an audit found widespread rule-breaking. (CP)
VICTORIA - Meet the fairness commissioner who was fired for trying to be fair. Last summer, he was retained by BC Hydro as fairness commissioner on a complex tendering process involving the redesign of all the giant Crown corporation's contracting work. (Vancouver Sun)
HALIFAX -Former Nova Scotia human resources minister Ernie Fage was expelled from caucus, just 90 minutes after being found guilty of leaving the scene of a minor accident. (CBC) PREVIOUS: NS cabinet minister resigns NS cabinet minister accused of leaving scene of accident resigns 'Glitch' behind delay in accident probe, police say |
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The vast majority of BC municipalities spent too much money between 2000 and 2006 - engaging in out-of-control spending that put upward pressure on property taxes, according to a Canadian Federation of Independent Business report. (Vancouver Sun) |
BC Municipal spending watch .pdf Civic spending 'out of control' |
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OTTAWA - Canada's top bureaucrat is cracking down on the management of performance pay for senior executives with a rigorous plan that means fewer than 20% will receive the maximum bonus. (Ottawa Citizen) |
'Sunshine list' day, but only in Ontario Ontario public sector salary disclosure 2007 |
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TORONTO - A former Canada Revenue Agency employee has received a 12-month conditional sentence after pleading guilty to nine counts of using confidential taxpayer information to create false statements on income tax returns. . (CTV) |
MONTREAL - There are so many investigations into alleged wrongdoing in Outremont borough, the sleuths themselves are having trouble keeping track. (Montreal Gazette) MORE: Interim mayor in Outremont Cronyism in party system |
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Langley land deal goes down in secret LANGLEY - Dickson Pit, a 38-hectare tract of public land in Langley, has been quietly sold for just $2 million to a member of a wealthy local family. The sale was approved in secret by Langley Township council and has not been announced publicly. (Vancouver Province) MORE: Newspaper ad solicited buyers |
Minister's brother in firm granted tree farm deal VICTORIA - Forest and Range Minister Rich Coleman has said repeatedly that releasing 28,000 hectares of Western Forest Products Inc.'s private land from management under British Columbia's Tree Farm Licence system was done to help a company that was suffering financially. (Tyee) MORE: Who crowned Gordo? |
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Political parties are the most corrupt institutions UNITED NATIONS - A new survey says almost two-thirds of Canadians believe the government is doing an "ineffective" job of keeping graft in check, and almost half say it's on the rise. (CanWest) PREVIOUS: Why few white collar crooks end up in jail |
Panel raps BC's 'social condition' VICTORIA - BC is lagging behind in economic growth, crime-fighting and caring for the province's most vulnerable citizens, a group of Premier Gordon Campbell's handpicked advisers warned Thursday. In a report released Thursday, the BC Progress Board for the second year in a row named BC the second-worst province in the country on a number of social indicators. (Vancouver Sun) |
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Retired public servant charged OTTAWA - Retired federal public servant Lise Pouliot, 64, and her husband Emmanuel Feuerwerker, 56, were arrested at a home Thursday, accused of defrauding the Public Service Health Care Plan of around $639,000. (CBC) |
WINNIPEG - MLAs have seen their paycheques jump just over 29% from 2001 to 2007, thanks in part to a one-time 9% increase announced yesterday by salary commissioner Michael Werier. (Sun Media) MORE: Doer gets 20% more |
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Humber hospital reveals death rate TORONTO - Away from the glare of a media press conference, Humber River Regional Hospital, on orders from the provincial health ministry, quietly released the worst death rate of any Toronto-area hospital. (Toronto Star) PREVIOUS: Hospital mortality info published HSMR: New approach for measuring hospital mortality trends in Canada |
RCMP asks BC to withhold audit results VICTORIA - The RCMP have asked the BC government not to make public results of an internal audit of a former assistant deputy health minister. Health Minister George Abbott said a team from the comptroller general's office has completed its investigation of Ron Danderfer, a 35-year civil servant and former assistant deputy in his ministry. (Victoria Times Colonist) |
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Court rules judges can double dip REGINA - A provincial court judge has won the right to receive a pension from a former government job in addition to his regular pay for being on the bench. (CBC) |
Health authority board member resigns SASKATOON - Eric Brauni, who faces several charges of possession and trafficking drugs after a bust, has now resigned from the health board. (Saskatoon Star Phoenix) |
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Agency couldn't halt subdividing VANCOUVER - The Agricultural Land Commission was "powerless to prevent" a municipal bureaucrat from subdividing a property in Chilliwack says an ALC document. More recently, Grant Sanborn, now a consultant, has been accused of applying to subdivide another piece of land without the owner's knowledge. Sanborn drew attention starting last month when police said they were probing land dealings involving former Chilliwack mayor John Les, who then stepped down as BC solicitor-general. (Vancouver Sun) |
Documents link Les to land deals Didn't know of Les probe: Campbell Resignation highlights the need for reduced secrecy Solicitor general resigns over investigation How to tackle political corruption 'I have never been questioned by the RCMP' |
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VANCOUVER - Ken Dobell, the premier's special adviser, was granted an absolute discharge in Vancouver Provincial Court yesterday for failing to register on time under the Lobbyists Registration Act. (Vancouver Province) Case puts a murky activity under spotlight Federal lobbying watchdog has no right to investigate violations |
Insider did not consider himself a lobbyist Campbell adviser admits breaking rules Premier's pal taking heat for contract Former BC minister won't face conflict of interest investigation |
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EDMONTON - A defiant Premier Ed Stelmach is standing by the contract he approved for Murray Smith that paid the former Washington, DC, envoy six months' salary in severance - despite him quitting the post. (Calgary Herald) PREVIOUS Premier stands by payout to trade rep Washington's 800 pound gorilla Council salaries up 15% in year A legislative committee that rarely meets misses a deadline |
PS 'phantom jobs' inquiry targets 20 OTTAWA - Canada's staffing watchdog is investigating the improper job movements of 20 bureaucrats who formerly worked for cabinet ministers, risking the political neutrality of the public service. (Ottawa Citizen) REPORT: PS Commission annual report 2006-2007 Bureaucrats' pay robs front lines Feds to probe phantom jobs Appetite for taxes proving insatiable Study: Employment trends in the federal public service |
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Class-action lawsuit targets visa fees OTTAWA - The Federal Court of Canada has given the green light to a national, class-action lawsuit alleging that the Department of Citizenship and Immigration profits off its visa application fees, and has illegally raked in more than $700 million over the past decade from new immigrants. (Citizen) |
PS unions lose $30B pension case TORONTO - An Ontario Supreme Court judge ruled yesterday that 700,000 public servants, military and RCMP personnel aren't entitled to any of the $30-billion surplus in their pension plans that has been at the centre of a historic legal battle for more than a decade. (Ottawa Citizen) |
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Ex-Baird aide touts federal ties OTTAWA - After helping the Conservative government usher in its package of ethics reforms, a former aide to Environment Minister John Baird is trying to recruit private-sector clients with the promise his consulting company can help them "score big" communications successes and get regulatory changes from government. (Ottawa Citizen) PREVIOUS: Lobbyists lobby against new rules |
Lessons from College St.'s conflict TORONTO - A spate of liquor licence suspensions in the past year along the busy entertainment strip - more than a dozen, all told - and the constant attentions of either inspectors from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario or the city's noise bylaw officers have left bar and restaurant owners feeling unwelcome in their own neighbourhood. (Toronto Star) PREVIOUS: Health inspector facing charges |
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HAMILTON - City politicians have appointed more than 400 people to the city's 100 committees, boards, agencies and commissions since the current council took office in November 2006. But, until The Spectator began inquiries, a complete list of all the appointees did not exist. (Hamilton Spectator) MORE: The city's committee system and how it works |
Accused thief seeks creditor protection VANCOUVER - A former government employee charged with defrauding the RCMP's stock-fraud section of thousands of dollars is so badly in debt that she recently went to court to seek protection from her creditors. Police did not release the accused's name but court records obtained by The Sun indicate she is Michelle Jennifer Aubie, 32, of Vancouver. (Sun) |
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OTTAWA - Canada's federal Lobbyists Registrar Michael Nelson has delivered a stern warning to federal lobbyists, saying that they "place themselves in jeopardy" of breaching the Lobbyists Code of Conduct if they are both registered to lobby and working on political fundraising or electoral campaigns. (Hill Times) Getting the government's ear is big business for thriving industry |
Lobbyists Registration Regulations Lobbying rules leave loopholes Setting the right rules for Ottawa's lobbyists Government stymieing efforts for obtain info, commissioner failing to help The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists |
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It's time to “face our budget demons” SACRAMENTO - Weary of boom-and-bust state government financing, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a constitutional amendment to keep the state from spending more than it collects in taxes. The issue, the governor said, is that demands on state services - driven by voter-approved mandates - are escalating faster than the state's income. (San Francisco Chronicle) RELATED: Heath care for retired California government employees to cost $118B |
Website shut down over NDP complaint OTTAWA - The Defence Department has shut down its website featuring photos of Canadian military personnel after receiving a complaint that on-screen commands used to download the pictures were not in both official languages and information regarding the images was poorly translated into French. (Ottawa Citizen) PREVIOUS: Godin’s election expenses investigated Yvon Godin Acadie-Bathurst riding Combat Camera Account for bilingualism cash |
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Alberta, teachers reach $2.1B deal EDMONTON - The Alberta government bought itself five years of labour peace with teachers Thursday, offering to cover $2.1 billion of the teachers' pension fund in return for five years without strikes. (Edmonton Journal) |
OTTAWA - Public Works quietly deleted references to "accountability" in its supply manual to ensure it won't be on the hook for other departments' foul-ups in the preparing or awarding of contracts worth $13 billion a year. (Ottawa Citizen) |
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Courts won't enforce union fines TORONTO - A major public-service union has lost an Ontario court case attempting to force its members to pay hefty fines for choosing to go to work while their colleagues are on strike. (CanWest) |
Second trial for ex-inspector's alleged bribes WINNIPEG - A former City of Winnipeg building inspector is on trial this week for a second time over allegations he demanded and received bribes from business owners in exchange for overlooking alleged safety violations. Winnipeg Free Press) |
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SURREY - A special prosecutor has decided no charges are warranted stemming from an investigation of an Abbotsford land deal involving Harry Oppal, brother of Attorney-General Wally Oppal, the government announced (Vancouver Sun) PREVIOUS: Province enquiry leads to disclosure of probe Investigation targets Oppal's brother |
OTTAWA - The rules-laden Federal Accountability Act is backfiring and creating a bureaucracy of risk-averse "Dilberts" who keep their heads down, don't trust anyone and put process ahead of getting things done, warns a report by Ottawa think-tank Public Policy Forum. (Ottawa Citizen) REPORT: Leading by Example .pdf |
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Former prison watchdog repays part OTTAWA - Ron Stewart, the former CFL great accused of bilking Canadians of hundreds of thousands of dollars while doing little work as Canada's ombudsman for prisons, has settled his outstanding bill with the federal government by paying back $77,500. (Ottawa Citizen) |
Councillor loses wrongful dismissal case MONTREAL - A provincial labour board has rejected Montreal city councillor Richard Bergeron's wrongful dismissal complaint against the Metropolitan Transit Agency, saying his political role and his research job at the agency were incompatible. (Montreal Gazette) |
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OTTAWA - Humiliating, embarrassing, it was the worst. That's how a sombre Mayor Larry O'Brien described his experience: The experience of being fingerprinted, of having his mugshot taken. That's what happened to the mayor of the nation's capital when he was officially charged with two counts under the Criminal Code. (Sun Media) |
Offering to pay off a political rival is legal OPP now says RCMP won't get O'Brien file Mayor's phone records seized in OPP bribery probe OPP seeks Baird's expenses in probe City of Ottawa wants to audit its auditor 4 months of advice cost city $80,454 |
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VICTORIA - An independent review by consulting firm, | |
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