Two more Tory Cabinet Ministers have been found ordering gold embossed business cards.
This follows earlier disclosure that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird had done the same – all three cases dating back to the Spring of 2011 but the two recent cases were just discovered through the industrious efforts of the Canadian Press via Access to Information.
This past Sunday the Toronto Star breathlessly reported the following:
“At least two more key Conservatives got gold-embossed business cards contrary to long standing government rules against fancy stationary”.
I guess one could argue whether business cards fall under the category of “stationary” but what cannot be argued is the scale of this transgression.
When Baird was caught out he indicated the cost of the enhanced cards was some $$424.88 whereas standard issue was but $197.75. So the additional cost was over twice the going rate. Outrageous.
I can just imagine the press conference the Leader of Her Official Opposition will have:
- We on this side of the House are simply livid with such arrogance…where will it end? I am calling for both Ministers to resign forthwith.
- Question follows from the reporter representing the Gopher Tribune from Puddle Jump Saskatchewan --- ‘is it not true sir that these transgressions, serious as they are, took place some 3 years ago’?
- Your point?
- ‘Well I was just wondering how something that occurred 3 years ago can be considered breaking news, especially since this issue has already been thoroughly dealt with in the case of Minister Baird’?
- Arrogance is arrogance and waste is waste whenever it happens.
- ‘And my understanding is that these two Ministers long ago repaid the cost of these cards from there own pocket’.
- Well that technically is true but it leads us to conclude a Duffyesque cover-up is afoot. How else can you explain politicians repaying the taxpayer from their own pocket. It simply is not done.
- ‘And now you want both Ministers to resign. Wouldn’t that result in new business cards having to be ordered and paid for’.
- Chump change in the scheme of things.
- ‘And is it not true sir that the cost to the taxpayer for Canadian Press’ Access to Information Request far exceeded the cost of the gold embossed in the first place’?
- Wrongs should not be discouraged simply because there is a cost attached.
- ‘And just one final question sir, what is wrong with Canadian Minister’s having gold embossed cards’?
- At last a sensible question from you. We in Canada are known throughout the world as being bland… just think what type of message gold embossed cards will give. We simply cannot have it.
- Now let’s get a question from someone else – yes you there from Canadian Press.
As I see it…
‘K.D. Galagher’
