In addition to her MLA duties, former MLA Bonnie Korzeniowski was given the title “Special Envoy for Military Affairs” for the Manitoba government back in 2008.

As many know, Ms. Korzeniowski chose not to run in the election last October. However, instead of Premier Selinger handing the “Special Envoy for Military Affairs” designation off to a new MLA, Ms. Korzeniowski seems to have kept it...along with her old office...and a pay cheque courtesy of the taxpayer.

You see, a little bird sent me a note the other day informing me that Ms. Korzeniowski’s old office (see below) had a face lift and that Ms. Korzeniowski is still employed by the provincial government in a military role.

Today I popped by the office on Portage Ave and sure enough it now has a new sign outside that says “Manitoba Envoy for Military Affairs.” I spoke with a nice lady inside about the new government office and was told the role is sort of like a “military ombudsman” and that Ms. Korzeniowski attends military events on behalf of the Premier and represents the province at such functions.

Ms. Korzeniowski seems like a nice lady and all, but why can’t an existing back bencher do the same thing Bonnie did when she was elected – serve as an MLA and as special envoy? Do they not make NDP MLAs like they used to?

I asked about the budget for the office and was told it wasn’t much – ‘under $200,000.’ However, I was also told that treasury board hadn’t yet approved the final amount. Yet somehow someone approved funds for a new sign, rent, office furnishings and salaries???

I called the Protocol office as suggested by Ms. Korzeniowski’s assistant, but no one was available...we’ll see what happens with inquiries about the position.

Regardless, I feel Canada should be proud of its military, but it looks like it’s getting used in the name of patronage. It’s still not clear why an existing MLA couldn’t represent the province at military functions and do double duty like Bonnie used to?

I even checked on ‘oil and potash rich’ Saskatchewan’s provincial government web site and they don’t seem to have a similar position for military affairs. Perhaps that’s because the military is a federal responsibility?

This appears to be just another reason why our province’s debt is increasing by well over $50 per second...and why we pay some of the highest income taxes in Canada. $100,000 here...$100,000 there...it all adds up.

UPDATE: the April 14 edition of the Winnipeg Free Press confirmed the cost of the office as being $190,000. Since that time the province has tabled their 2012 budget - one which includes larger deficits in 2012 and 2013 than what the province projected back in 2011. New, unnecessary expansions to the bureaucracy (like this story) are types of things the government should be cutting, not moving ahead with...