You ever wonder where your B.C. tax dollars are going? Ever wonder how we at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation track down information on government waste? I thought regular readers might be interested in a little case study.

This particular issue started with a tip from a friend. He works in the Lower Mainland and had just received a giant box from the B.C. Government’s Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation. When he opened it and saw what was inside, he called me. I'm glad he did.

The box, mailed as a Canada Post “expedited parcel” by Kirk Integrated Marketing Services Ltd. (Fun fact: this company did $255,444 worth of business with the B.C. Government last year), measures 14 inches by 17 inches, and weighs 1.47 kg. Inside the mailing package was another box, same size, but black and glossy and titled “JobFest: Rock Your Future”. Here’s a photo:

Inside the box is a bunch of printed material, plus swag (the hip word for gifts):

There’s a “foldable, metallic water bottle” with WorkBC.ca branding on it:

The whole thing is modeled off a popular video game. There are three guitar picks (yes, guitar picks) with the JobFest logo, a neon pink wristband, a metallic pen and a JobFest pencil (presharpened).

There is a DVD with specially-cut artwork promoting the event:

There are three heavy-duty, glossy posters (seen here folded down):

And here’s one of the posters, full-sized:

All of this sits within a box specifically designed for all these pieces. None of this is cheap. But how expensive is it? And how many people got it?

The government included a list of JobFest dates (this weekend, it’s in Penticton) and a survey asking how useful the package was (including what the recipient’s favorite part was: water bottle? Pen and pencil? DVD? So many choices!). 

To find out, I filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act today: A list of all organizations, businesses, offices and other agencies who received the B.C. JobFest promotional package in the summer of 2012, which included posters, a water bottle, DVD, etc. It also included a letter from ADM Shannon Baskerville. Further, the total cost of designing, printing, packaging, producing and sending these JobFest promotional packages (this can be provided through the contract(s) with the box designers and producers or other means).

When we hear back, we’ll post it here. Stay tuned… but in the meantime, feel free to hazard a guess on the following:

1. How many of these packages did government mail out on your dime?
2. What is the total cost for all this stuff?

If your guess is closest, I'll send you one of the guitar picks.