 |
Status of Women Canada wines, dines and travels
Self-serving socializing or promoting the interests of Canadian women?
Whatever it may be considered to be, is the high cost of socializing
illustrated here due to valuable work on behalf of women? Let's not
forget that Canadian men pay for three quarters of it, while there is no
government department Status of Men Canada.
Nevertheless, despite MP (Vegreville-Wainwright) Leon Benoit's denial of
the existence of his party's government department for the Status of Women
Canada, SWC is very much in existence, alive, kicking and spending tax
dollars generously.
Given that the Conservative Party of Canada changed the exercise of the
Freedom of Information Act to impose all-out restrictions on the freedom of
information, one must wonder whether the information made accessible here
through the generosity of the Canadian Government will be accessible for
much longer.
The motivation for constructing this web page and for compiling the
information presented in it arose from a discussion with Leon Benoit
(Conservative, Member of Parliament since 1993, for Vegreville-Wainwright,
Alberta) on September 19, 2008, at the Bruderheim Seniors Club.
A question was put to Leon Benoit during that discussion, as to what plans
the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has to establish a government
department for the Status of Men, so as to provide a counterweight to the
government department Status of Women Canada, whereby some balance could be
achieved for the promotion of issues that affect all, men and women, boys
and girls in Canada.
The discussion of that topic died as a result of Leon Benoit's strong and
repeated insistence that, "We [that is, the government of Canada under
the leadership and control of the CPC] do not have a department for the
Status of Women."
Leon Benoit is without a doubt mistaken on that, and
a message (no response so far) was sent to him Sep. 22, 2008, to provide
clear and unmistakable proof of not only the existence of Status of Women
Canada but also of the great need for a department for the Status of Men.
You are urged to look up the details associated with the expenses
illustrated in the following (all you have to do is click on any of the
links that follow). Perhaps you feel, as Status of Women Canada (SWC)
obviously does, that your tax dollars are well spent on things such as:
The preceding travel-expense and hospitality items are just some of those
incurred through the invaluable services of one Clara Beckton, coordinator,
one of three such coordinators working on the taxpayers' behalf since 2003.
The duties of a minister in charge of Status of Women Canada are, of course,
much more all-encompassing, weighty and accordingly more expensive.
Here are some of the expense items claimed for reimbursement by the
Honorable Josée Verner, Minister
Travel Expenses - from March 2 to June 1
- 03-25 to 03-27
Contribution announcement for Status of Women, artistic organization
and the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society. (Vancouver) $3,871.91
- 04-03 to 04-07
Participated to the press conference on approved funding to 10
groups of Status of Women of Canada, meeting with the
representarives of CTV, meeting with the Committee of the Canadian
Arts Summit and participating at the Junos Gala presentation.
(Calgary) $4,506.28
- 04-22 to 04-22
Announcement and press conference on approved funding to 21 groups
of Status of Women Canada. (Montreal) $1,171.47 [It seems
that it goes without saying that there are no journalists in Ottawa
for whom the press conference could have been held right at the
source.]
- 05-01 to 05-02
Participated to Women of Influence lunch. $346.31 [Does that
make you wonder how much and for how long a single mother could have
stretched that $346.31 to make meals for herself and her children?
How much can one eat for that sort of money at one sitting anyway?]
- 05-16 to 05-16
Annual meeting for "Les Arts et la ville" and funding announcement
to the corporation of "Salle de spectacle Sept-Iles" (Sept-Iles,
Quebec) $1,413.57 [How much food did that put on the tables of
single mothers or fixed, low-income elderly women in Canada?]
- 05-21 to 05-22
National Arts Training Program announcement and participated to the
Shaw Festival. (Toronto) $2,214.78
- 05-22 to 05-23
Participated to the Streering Committee (Montreal) $234.27 (Accommodation:
$173.22; Meals and
incidentals: $61.05; and don't forget that at a
conference like that meals and snacks are being served at no cost to
the honourable minister.)
Hospitality Expenses - from March 2 to June 1
The question to Leon Benoit and to all of the Conservative Party of
Canada is still open and unanswered: What does the CPC intend to do to
create a government department for the Status of Men?
Status of Women Canada
Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Verner, Josée, Minister
Oda, Beverley J. - Minister
Frulla, Liza, Minister
Augustine, Jean, Minister of State (Multiculturalism
and Status of Women)
Beckton, Clare, Coordinator
2007: Travel: $29,357.76; Hospitality: $3,166.90
2008: Travel: $14,513.95; Hospitality: $180.57
Nicholson-O'Brien, Dawn, Deputy Coordinator
2007: Travel: $12,153.79; Hospitality: $58.73
2008: Travel: $1,406.67; Hospitality: ---
Ievers, Florence, Coordinator
2003: Travel: ---; Hospitality: $2,837.48
2004: Travel: $22,036.45; Hospitality: $10,742.44
2005: Travel: $13,432.88; Hospitality: $9,773.83
2006: Travel: $11,112.74; Hospitality: $8,538.72
2007: Travel: $2,933.91; Hospitality: $854.63
2008: Travel: ---; Hospitality: ---
Vendors/Contracts
Disclosure of Contracts Over $10,000
Please select a report:
2007-2008
2006-2007
2005-2006
2004-2005
2003-2004
_____________________
See also:
__________________
Posted 2008 09 25
Updates:
2008 08 26 (Added link to Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women) |
