The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) ranked Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on their 2022 Christmas naughty list for wasteful spending.
According to the CTF, the top culprit is a federal worker who billed taxpayers $6,000 per night for a single hotel room during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
“Taxpayers were visited by the Ghost of Christmas Waste this year,” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.
“Someone spent $6,000 per night on a hotel room but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t say who it was so this mysterious waste continues to haunt taxpayers.”
Freeland was also cited for announcing $452 billion in new spending during April’s budget and for being on track to spend $20 billion over budget.
As for Macklem, he made the list for dishing out $45 million in bonuses and raises at the Bank of Canada while inflation was taking off.
“Governor General Mary Simon landed in Santa’s bad books for getting an early start on the festivities and billing taxpayers for her fancy airplane feasts in March,” said Alberta CTF director Kris Sims.
In March, Simon’;s trip to the Middle East cost taxpayers nearly six-figures on airplane food and beverages.
Premiers Smith, Tim Houston, Blaine Higgs and Doug Ford made the “taxpayer nice list” alongside Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux.
“Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is keeping more money in families’ pockets this year, and so are the premiers in New Brunswick and Ontario. That fills taxpayers with joy,” said Sims.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault also made the naughty list for misleading Canadians about carbon tax rebates. A recent report by the Parliamentary Budget oFfice found that Canadians on average pay between $299 and $671 on carbon taxes even after rebates are figured in.
Saskatchewan finance minister Donna Harpauer also received a spot on the naughty list for spending $8,000 on a private flight instead of driving.
