Every year the government publishes the Public Accounts that details virtually every aspect of its spending. And every year the Saskatchewan office of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) plows through them looking for examples of questionable spending. The following are just a small sampling of the hand-outs listed in the 1998-1999 Public Accounts.

Various Regional Economic Authorities - $2,174,303. "To assist and attract new, existing and expanding businesses, co-operatives and entrepreneurs to create and/or expand business activity in the Province." The CTF believes the best economic development plan is to cut taxes and red tape for all businesses and taxpayers.

Prairie Dog Alternative Press Co-operative - $10,000. The Prairie Dog bills itself as "Regina's News and Entertainment Voice" but is littered with dozens of ads from governments, unions and politicians.

Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation - $400,000. Last time we checked, international affairs was still a responsibility of the federal government.

Songwriting Centre Canada Inc. - $5,250. According to an Access to Information request by the CTF, the Centre also received another $62,912 from SaskTel's $1.87 million "New Media Fund".

First Nations Fund - $10,208,603. The Provincial Auditor has been repeatedly denied access to review the Fund's books, as he does with every other government department, agency, and fund. As a result, taxpayers have no idea how this money is being disbursed.

Here are just a few other hand-outs. You be the judge.

Canadian Institute for Climate Studies - $10,000

National Farmers Union - $26,000

National Judicial Institute - $15,200

Canadian Society of Civil Engineers 1999 Annual Conference - $5,000

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour - $10,500

Official Minority Language Office - $3,411,212

Consumers Association of Canada - $12,000

Association des Juristes d'Expression Francais de la Saskatchewan Inc. - $5,000

Intergovernmental Committee on Urban and Regional Research - $11,403

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival - $14,429

Regina Home Builders' Association - $15,000

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - $86,919

Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council - $5,000

Central Urban Metis Federation (1993) Inc. - $5,000

Canadian Electricity Association - $5,000

KPMG - $20,000

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations - $268,742

Institute of Intergovernmental Relations - $10,000

Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice Conference - $5,000

Fur Institute of Canada - $11,000