Wasting the taxpayers' money is who Dalton McGuinty is.
McGuinty's Magnificent Flying Machine
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, May 21, 2007
Obtaining documents through the Freedom of Information Act, the Hamilton Spectator learned that since taking office in October 2003, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty spent about $1 million on the use of government aircraft to ferry him around. Some of these trips that originated in Toronto went to such exotic locales as St. Catharines, Hamilton and Peterborough. The opposition, among other things, demanded that the McGuinty government be required the costs of those flights online.
Actually, it's nice to see the Preem being criticized for something that although may be excessive is not blatantly sleazy such as the slush fund for the party faithful. And in a refreshing bit of candor, McGuinty admitted that he did indeed take those flights. Even the great McGuinty whose separation from the truth is legendary couldn't lie his way out of this one. Our boy might actually be learning that it's better to tell the truth; either that or there must be an election coming up soon.
McGuinty justified these short flights to Hamilton and Peterborough saying that he's a busy guy – he doesn't have the time to take the approximately 50 minute drive down the QEW to go to Hamilton that the unwashed masses are forced to make if they have to undertake a similar journey. And McGuinty is at least acknowledging, another rarity for the present premier; that the roads in his province suck. But he's much too important, in his own mind if nowhere else to have to put up with the gridlock that envelopes province's capital city. And being the good Liberal that he is, he is only interested in a problem when it affects him personally.
But let's give this one to Dalton. We really shouldn't begrudge the top Ontarian the measly one mil that has been spent to fly him around the block. He really does deserve to be protected from the evils of the dreaded 401.
In a news release, Tory MPP Laurie Scott asks when McGuinty is going to start showing respect for taxpayers' money. That question surely was rhetorical; she must know that the answer is "never". Wasting the taxpayers' money is who Dalton McGuinty is.
In the end however, it really doesn't matter. We would like to think that if that million or so wasn't spent on flying Dalton down the road it would go towards health care and save a few lives or put towards delivering another important government service. But we know that simply isn't true. Had that million dollars not been spent on flights it would have gone towards another dumb campaign like "Flick Off" or used to change a logo such as the OPP to OOOPS or given to an aboriginal lesbian dance group run by a Liberal Party stalwart. Keep on flying from Toronto to Ajax; you deserve at least that much Dalton.
Dalton should keep his planes. However there is a "but". And it is a big "but".
Forget about posting how much these flights cost on a website. That's so 1990s. McGuinty and the Liberals should however be required to post how much climate changing, planet killing carbon dioxide is getting pumped into the Earth's atmosphere so Dalton can exercise his right to fly a distance that many Ontarians can easily walk. After all, being the good Liberal that he is, surely Dalton cares about the environment and the imminent death of the planet. He has to be concerned about his own carbon footprint. Why just last Friday, McGuinty penned an article in the Liberal house organ otherwise known as the Toronto Star entitled, "Tackling climate change together". According to the premier all 13 million Ontarians can make a difference with respect to global warming. But of course when he says "all Ontarians" he doesn't mean him.
After talking about all the wonderful things that his government is doing for climate change he writes, "And it will spell out small changes that your family can make with the province's help – small changes that can make a difference". Notice again that he says "your family" and not "our families". Once again, McGuinty's honesty is astounding. He dictates what kind of light bulbs we can have and how much electricity we can use while he continues to spew carbon into the atmosphere by flying down the block. What hypocrisy. He's obviously trying to keep up with his hero Al Gore in the hypocrisy of the global warming set and for once, he's doing a fine job.
Forget about posting the cost of McGuinty's flights to the local convenience store; he should be required to post how much he's contributing to global warming by flying these short distances. Come on Dalton; tell us what you're doing to the environment.
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