Dear Diary, over the past week several federal issues and noteworthy events have caused me great consternation and as such, they merit mention for a permanent record in your pages.

Refreshing is the only way to describe the criticism of New Brunswick Auditor General Daryl Wilson. Apart from criticizing the financing of a toll highway, Mr. Wilson also criticized his own office for falling short of its "self-imposed performance standards." No one can accuse Mr. Wilson of not doing his job.

Perplexing is the polite way to describe Liberal, Tory and Indian criticism of the Reform filibuster during the Nisga'a treaty debate.

Liberals called the stalling tactic a waste of taxpayers money. Hmm, I wonder what these Liberals would think of the actions of their Senate colleagues that brought kazoos into the upper house to grind the GST bill to a halt earlier this decade Tory members also decried the waste of taxpayer dollars. Ah yes, the same Tories who let the bells ring for days in the early 80s to show their displeasure at Alberta energy initiatives brought forward by the Liberal government of the day.

But the most maddening comment came from Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Phil Fontaine. He is quoted as calling the filibuster "anti-democratic." A duly elected party utilized the rules of the House to express its displeasure and represent the views of their constituents on a piece of legislation. How is this anti-democratic

Perhaps we should consider the source. This is the same Phil Fontaine who recently penned an opinion editorial which inferred that critics of the Nisga'a treaty and other attempts to address long-standing grievances subscribe to the "ideology of white supremacy."

So much for democracy being based upon respect for differences in opinion and providing a forum to discuss these differences. This debate can do without not-so-veiled references to white hoods, jackboots and burning crosses. Such comments do nothing to advance the cause of the AFN or foster a climate where long-standing native grievances can be truly addressed and resolved.

Infuriating is the only word to describe the squandering of funds by the Canadian high commission in Pakistan. According to media reports, the high commission has been "squandering its hospitality budget on staff parties, despite federal guidelines that say money is meant for diplomatic networking."

Closer to home I am saddened to write about here at home we turn to yet another squandering by Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. A new federal fund, to the tune of $100 million, is scheduled for the next budget to "boost" the Canadian film industry. Specific measures (read: more dollars) are also anticipated to help young writers and filmmakers. Lights, camera, let the fleecing begin.

Finally Dear Diary, sympathies are extended to taxpayers in Northern Ireland. According to AP wire reports from December 6th, members of the new Northern Ireland Assembly voted to award themselves a 30% pay raise.

It was the first day of official business for the new assembly and the comments of the leader of the UK Unionist Party, Robert McCartney, (who opposed the pay hike) summed up the common perception of the vote.

"I do indeed think that it is a very sad thing that almost one of the first, if not the first, act exercising the devoted powers of this assembly, should be that the assembly votes itself and its members a very, very, hefty increase," said Mr. McCartney.

Dear Diary, enough said.