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Expensive Expenses
Posted 8/3/2012 4:51:00 AM

It’s Friday and time for your comments.  The biggest story this week was the $350,000 question, and the resignations of high-level, highly paid, higher ups.  Bob says it’s time to set up a rip-off watchdog, and not just rely on a third party to discover these things.  Mr. John wants cases like this tied to the person’s pension, as outrageous as they are.  Paddy wants to know how people can get caught up in something that leads to their leaving and they still expect a lucrative severance.  Fred finds it maddening that a person can have problems in one government department and still get hired by another.  Frank wonders if this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Barry has had enough of the expensive orange juice and the limo lifestyle some get to enjoy and he wonders how many more are in the wings, quietly feeding at the public trough.  Cheryl says this government has lost face.  As inappropriate as this all sounds, there may not be any legal wrong-doing.  These expenses may have been okay under the rules of four years ago.  But as Tom says, just because it’s legal, that doesn’t make it right.  Let me know what you think.

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Posted By: Bob Layton  

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  1. Robert posted on 08/03/2012 06:37 AM
    I think Bob's right that there should be an independent watchdog making sure that our tax dollar is going to the people, not to someone's expensive orange juice or limo service. In fact, include embezzlement charges.

    And not just where our, repeat OUR, money is going, but also other services. Including who gets healthcare, education, and so forth. Where much of it goes to who needs it the most.

    Plus not only province wide, but nation wide. This includes the Sponsorship Scandal and the Robocalling. Therefore ensuring whether or not the Liberals were simply victims of a scam artist right then and there, or to quickly collect the evidence that the Conservatives did not legally win the majority. Cutting the red tape as much as possible.

    And for Patty, as a part of my personal Defeat Harper campaign, for both politicians and business executives, put a vote on whether severances are deserved if they leave early. If they deserve it, it is because of a job well done, not this crap. Also, restrict severance pays. Meaning no more $100 million, "get your sorry ass out of here," settlements, $1 million for a job well done, and not a dime for being fired or resigning in disgrace.

    Pardon the language, trying to be realistic without being Quinton Tarantino.
    1. David W. Lincoln posted on 08/03/2012 11:25 AM
      @Robert There is a watchdog, that frankly has not been given enough latitude - The Auditor General.

      Governments tend to be a reflection of those who elect them, and vice versa. Therefore, we should apply to Alberta these words about the British Empire: The Sun never set on the British Empire because even God doesn't trust an Englishman in the dark.
  2. Richard G. posted on 08/03/2012 07:46 AM
    When someone resigns, why are they given severence? If I quit or resigned my job, I would get no severence.
  3. GeneR_8058 posted on 08/03/2012 08:21 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 05:09 AM on 08/07/2012
    So it was within the rules, and legal to repair your personal vehicle and charge the costs to the taxpayers? There is something seriously wrong with the sytem if seniro managers and Cabinet Minsters actually believe that.

    It seems the real problem is that no one is responsible for the money spent, not the managers or the Ministers.

    Lets see some responsibility. Personal expenses charged to the taxpayers is at a minimum, theft. Criminal charges are in order.

    If the Ministers can say it is OK and within the rules they should resign in disgrace.

    I recall a case in one company I worked for where people used a company credit card to put gas in their personal vehicle and were immediately fired, no severance.

    It appears they have found new ways to get rid of the money.
  4. Ron Heck posted on 08/03/2012 08:53 AM
    Bob, it is not only certain government officials and employees. I have extensive experience with high profile non-profit organization and t happens all too often there as well. There are meetings held at expensive hotels, high per-diems paid, and travel mileage that most of us wish we could claim. Often times 3 or 4 people will travel to Calgary from Edmonton for example, and everyone gets to claim mileage on an expense report. Just like politicians, after certain lengths of time, these people feel a sense of entitlement. Most of these travel and meeting costs could be eliminated in today's age by using existing technology to have virtual meetings. If people only knew when there tax or donation dollars were being wasted........

    Ron
  5. Rob posted on 08/03/2012 10:11 AM
    Morning Bob: About your blogs yesterday,and to day, you got a lot of people commenting about the bottomless spending from the ones we voted for. But I wonder how many of those who are complaining actually got off their duffs and voted? Either municipal, provincal or federal..
  6. Garry Chubb posted on 08/03/2012 12:57 PM
    Garry: "Did you hear about the big $350,000.00 rip-off that the Alberta Health guy pulled off against the Alberta Taxpayers?
    Jimmy - the Greek: "No,...whata happened?"
    Garry: "This guy was spending huge amounts on wine, car repairs, butlers, hotels, and stuff like that there"...."and he did this over three years!"
    Jimmy - the Greek: "No way, did he spendah it in myah restaurant?"
    Garry: "No, I don't think so,...everywhere but your place!"
    Jimmy - the Greek: "That Son a ma Gun!!!"....We shoulda reporta him to dat chick who runs ah the governamentah!"
    Garry: "Can't do it,...she's on a trip to London, at the Olympics!"
    Jimmy - the Greek: " At the Olympics?.....Did SHE buy any orange juice there?"
  7. Maurice Paul posted on 08/03/2012 04:37 PM
    I think with the number of well paid lawyers in the Alberta Government that they should have the expertise to draft up a clause in the hiring agreement to be signed by all senior executives in all departments. This clause should state " I promise to carry out my duties in a completely honest fashion. If I am found to be in contravention, I forfeit all benefits that I would normally be entitled to and may be obligated to repay any irregularities." Let the lawyers make it right.
  8. donnae_3288 posted on 08/03/2012 07:44 PM
    Here is my letter to Freddie Horne:
    I respectfully ask you how in this environment of excruciating wait lists due to lack of resources (Surgeons and Operating Theaters) your hand picked CFO has managed to receive more than $300K in obnoxious and obvious arrogant expense claims. If this is how you think a super provincial health system should work and be worth our taxpayer dollars you are misguided and will NEVER be re-elected. My Dad waited 11 months in severe chronic pain because of your stupid Hip and Knee Replacement Program. He was 76. If we had of known what a sham the Program was and that Morali (I misspell his name intentionally as a play on the word 'moral') was getting $300K in the meantime we certainly would have done the F.O.I.P. request personally. Instead our faith was in our Minister of Health that all "is good". What a slap in the face. How dare you put the blame on some obscure "board" for hiring him in the first place. Ever hear the saying that "The Buck Stops Here"? Apparently, not. Now to add insult to injury you are actually giving this man a severance? Think twice. Fool me once , shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I will not go unnoticed or unheard if you give him one red cent in severance after witnessing my Dad's deterioration and unbearable pain. You all make me SICK."
    1. Bob $ posted on 08/07/2012 08:56 AM
      @donnae_3288 Yeah Donnae.....But don't get too sick over this, you know how the Health Care system works.
      This whole fiasco is enough to make you puke. What I wonder is?...how the people who had to document this huge rip-off had to feel seeing this EVERY DAY! It must have been just maddening that they had to keep their mouths shut!
  9. Al Zappa posted on 08/09/2012 11:55 PM This comment was edited by a moderator at 03:54 AM on 08/10/2012
    Why do we even bother busting these people? Nothing ever comes of it anyway....it usually gets dwarfed by a bigger one week later anyway....If a tax payer pulled something like that we would be paying it back foryears at 15% interest!
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