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Canadians can stomach only so much

Canadians have been satiated with tales of scandal ever since the Gomery commission hearings revealed the deeds and misdeeds of politicians, high-level public servants, heads of corporations, and read about ad agency billings, kickbacks, and general disregard for probity, service, and the public purse.

It has been alleged that taxpayers' money has been spent with abandon, and as the details emerged, the public was astonished at the amounts spent on lavish lunches, expensive dinners, and travel overseas by government Ministers and their entourages.

Forget about the millions of dollars wasted on programs of questionable value. To the vast majority of Canadians whose only contact with even one million dollars is limited to chance and a lottery ticket, the total sums involved are almost beyond understanding.

What they do understand is the cost of a meal. Bread, butter, and gasoline costs, mortgages, rents, bus tickets, car payments, charitable donations when they can afford them, school books, dental work-these are the things that they cope with on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis. For those fortunate enough, there may be a once-a-year splurge on a birthday or other celebration. They understand such expenses. But hundreds of dollars, even thousands of dollars spent on lunches and dinners, are costs that shock them.

They do not begrudge people with private means having the ability to spend their own money to satisfy their desires. They have earned their money, or inherited it. But the money that the heads of Crown corporations spend is public money, taxpayers' money. The same thing applies to government Ministers.

Becoming an elected or appointed official is not a licence to spend. One excuse offered is that "the guidelines allow it". If the guidelines allow it, the guidelines should be changed.

Canadians can stomach only so much.

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