• Governor General's Spending a Disgrace
  
• Three-week Trip 530 per cent Over Budget

Ottawa: In light of news that Governor General Adrienne Clarkson spent $5.3-million on a "northern junket," the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling for a second planned northern tour to be cancelled, and a full review of the Governor General's spending since she was appointed in 1999.

Before costs spiraled out of control, the original estimate for the September trip to Russian, Finland and Iceland was $1-million. The Governor General was accompanied by her husband, 22 staff members from Rideau Hall, and 59 "prominent" Canadians.

According to CTF federal director John Williamson, "CTF offices are receiving calls from across the country. Taxpayers are angry in the face of such arrogant and unapologetic waste." He asks, "What are taxpayers getting for this money Where is the proof this extravagant trip has generated any benefit for Canadians This is exactly the sort of thoughtless spending that Canadians are currently up in arms over. "

While the latest figures are truly appalling, they represent only the tip of the iceberg. Since taking office, the annual costs for operating the Governor General's office have doubled from $10-million to $20-million. In addition, Ms. Clarkson persuaded other government departments to give her office an extra $15-million this past year - up from $307,000 in 1995. Part of that money no doubt is funding her ever-increasing staff, which has jumped by 33 percent from when she took office, from less than 135 people to 180. And Ms. Clarkson's preferred mode of transportation, private Challenger jets, takes an additional bite out of the already cash-strapped Defence Department's budget - $8,000 for every hour she is in the air.

"The Governor General should be ashamed to be taking such advantage of the people she purports to serve," said Williamson. "The federal government must put a stop to this outrageous abuse of the public trust. This report is further proof Ottawa is unable to responsibly budget or control costs. The government's system of accountability has failed Canadian taxpayers once again."