Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

A toilet unto the country, a toilet unto the world

by Aaron Wherry on Monday, April 11, 2011 5:40pm - 40 Comments

John Baird explains the funding of toilets and such for the sake of the G8 summit.

“We wanted to ensure that we put a good face on Canada,” Conservative candidate John Baird said at a news conference … Mr. Baird said the money was used in part to build or improve on infrastructure linked directly to the summit, while the rest of the fund was a gift to the region. “We did a bit of sprucing up to a part of Canada that is beautiful,” he said. “There were legacy funds to thank the greater region of Muskoka for hosting the summit.”

Tags: auditor general, election, Election 2011, G8, John Baird, Muskoka, summit

More by Aaron Wherry

Patchouli

I'm sure all the areas of Canada that aren't beautiful are pleased that Tony Clement's Muskoka could benefit from the legacy. Like north central Regina. Or the reserves that don't have potable water, or hell, any water.

http://dougsamu.wordpress.com dougrogers

Nominated for Comment of the Year
lgarvin

Well, if we spent money to give reserves potable water than guys like Bruce Carson would have no "projects" to keep them busy in their semi-retirement. You gotta think of the big picture, Patchouli

OriginalEmily1

Aaaah, the jokes just write themselves on this one. LOL

saskboy

Do we have a contender to "entitled to my entitlements"?

Amateur Hour

A $50 million parting gift? For a region that was flown over by delegates on their way to and from Deerhurst in helicopters?

I wouldn't stand next to Baird for fear of stray lightning bolts.

My favourite bit is this one:

"For instance, the report notes the government devoted $26 million to create a Huntsville G8 Centre, which was supposed to be the command centre for co-ordinating logistics for the summit.

“We were informed that at the time of the announcement for this project, (Foreign Affairs) had already determined the centre would not be suitable as it was not expected to be completed on time,” Fraser says.

In the end, other facilities were rented for the command centre.
A_logician

Shorter Baird: "It was a politically controlled, taxpayer-funded slush fund."

Proud Canadian

dont you mean 'flush fund'

Margaret

Wait for the new Office of Religious Freedom if Harper gets back in. That should be a treat for Canadians to watch as it burns more money.
Robin

So all summit sites were thanked for what they did. Apparently the government simply felt that Torontonians would prefer more exciting memories, like property damage and police misconduct, to pork as their parting gift. They might have been wrong but really, isn't it the thought that counts?
danby

John Baird again.

Is Tony Clement sitting with Bev Oda now?
ChrisInOtt

The only economic stewardship skill Baird and the Harper Government have is strength in flushing money down the toilet, and going Bart Simpson on Canadians.
Mike T.

Our economic recovery is too fragile to the placed in the hands of this and other idiots in the CPC.

TJCook

Now now, it's important to be precise. They're not idiots, they're evil.

At this point, I would much prefer my leaders be incompetent and well-meaning rather than competent but evil. Dick Cheney was both competent and evil.

Patchouli

I'm here to bridge your disagreement: the Cons are evil idiots.

SanDiegoDave

(/ _thurston_howell_voice_on) Lord knows Muskoka could really use an economic boost. My gardener, pool boy, and boat house jockey have nothing to do over the winter. So I said to Tony, "Look old boy, they need gazebos!". And my good man delivered! Not bad for a Yale man I said! (/thurston_howell_voice_off)

LdKitchenersOwn

What do they do with the gazebos that keeps them busy "over the winter"???

tobyornotoby

Whereas the city of Toronto was thanked with temporary fencing, temporary fake lakes and a temporary suspension of civil liberties. No legacy except for the scars and bruises.

Patchouli

Yet that's where they hope to make inroads. Why tick off the GTA people whose votes they court in favour of people who already were benefitting from Clement's largesse?

TJCook

And yet, the City of Toronto might just notice the disparity: http://twitter.com/metromorning/status/5760634331…

Patchouli

Oh I hope they do, TJ!

Out There

Yet that's where they hope to make inroads. Why tick off the GTA people whose votes they court in favour of people who already were benefitting from Clement's largesse?

The Conservatives are targeting the suburban swing ridings around Toronto, and none of the G20 unpleasantness happened there. Downtown Toronto, which had the G20 inflicted on it, is never going to vote Conservative, so the Tories don't care what happens there.

Andrew (not PorC)

A gift to Muskoka courtesy of the Conservative government, funded by taxpayers. An out and out bribe, then.

dave

I hear Rob Ford could use 4.1B for a subway, maybe he should invite some "world leaders" to visit.
Out There

Strictly speaking, it's not an "out and out bribe". That would be something like "Thank you for voting Conservative – here's a gazebo. Or ten."

This is more like a "not particularly cleverly hidden bribe".

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Wow, how do you get from that quote to: "A toilet unto the country, a toilet unto the world."

The Aaron Wherry way, I guess.

And he's supposed to be appear on a TV panel about Parliamentary democracy, is he? Again, wow!

TJCook

Pardon me? I couldn't hear you over the sound of the Conservative faithful changing the subject…

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

I asked how does the title of this blog post match with its primary content, which is a paragraph quote. In fact, my question was precisely about the content of this blog post. So, how in the world is that "changing the subject," or deserving of the "Conservative faithful" charge? Indeed, you're the one who doesn't seem capable of basic reading or analytical skills, right?

TJCook

Follow the link and search for "washroom".

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

So one word in a linked -to page justifies this blog post title, does it? Talk about taking hackery to a whole new level.
DBM

So the best complaint that can be mustered is that the title of the blog post doesn't adequately reflect the substance of the scandal being covered?
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Yeah. That "a toilet unto the country, a toilet unto the world" is more nonsense coming from a media that says it protects democracy. My ass.

BCer in Mtl

I couldn't hear it over the sound of Stephen Harper kicking chairs.

BCer in Mtl

Its all part of the EA!P – stimulus to chair manufacturers
http://halooverride.blogspot.com/ Halo_Override

Dunno 'bout the rest of y'all, but I'm willing to settle on "Toiletgate".

Has the right kind of air to it.

Stewart_Smith

I hope you are flushed with your success… or should that be along with your success?

http://halooverride.blogspot.com/ Halo_Override

Nah, I have a feeling it's gonna tank.

chet

I see Iggy's actively campaigning on the illegally obtained, and specifically discredited first draft of the AG's report.

I could have sworn he was shouting from the rooftops for weeks on end how respecting parliamentary laws was sacrosanct.

Golly, do you think it was just a pretext to grab power all along?