The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released documents today obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) orders showing Saskatchewan crown corporations, ministries and agencies spend about $1.5 million each year on giveaway promotional items and over $5 million on sponsorships.
Promo Items 2008-09 & 2009-10
Government Body | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | Examples of Promo Items |
$44,733.00 | $60,642.00 | Stress relievers, polo shirts, USB drives, candies, Rider jerseys, vests | |
$14,180.34 | $8,908.12 | Coffee mugs, ball caps, shirts, tea, international delegate gifts | |
$3,877.28 | $13,828.98 | Pins, note pads | |
- | - | None | |
$3,579.93 | $35,398.97 | Tote bags, key holders, $12,000 on flash drives, geological survey cards | |
$33,351.47 | $24,086.53 | Fishing lures, balloons, portfolios, magnets | |
- | - | None | |
* | * | Time Extension | |
- | $2,075.85 | Tote bags, letter openers | |
$46,081.37 | $61,739.83 | Squeeze brains, cd cases, toques, bandages, music cards, blankets | |
$10,391.00 | $7,778.00 | Hard hat/Traffic cone/Dump truck stress relievers, pens, etc. | |
$5,300.08 | - | Memory sticks, none in 09-10 | |
$55.13 | - | Provincial pins | |
$5,220.01 | $5,170.81 | Pens, lip balm | |
* | * | $180 to get the information | |
$35,723.88 | $39,034.62 | Billboard fan, moose hats, sunblock, tire inflators, quilted vests, frisbees, binoculars | |
$15,934.61 | $14,755.14 | Flashlights, desk weather stations, travel wallets, pewter sculptures, mugs, USB sticks | |
$25,548.74 | $61,621.30 | Pens, flags, chocolates, tote bags, hot sauce | |
$13,011.28 | $15,017.73 | Gym bags, magnetic rocks, tote bags | |
$1,021.82 | - | Mugs, jacket, shirt, portfolio bags | |
- | $1,390.73 | Toques, caps, golf balls | |
$2,065.80 | $10,891.74 | Thermoses, mouse pads, seeds, highlighters | |
$5,227.00 | $1,933.00 | Steel tumblers, carabineers, playing cards, clocks/frames, knives, backpacks | |
$1,640.72 | $1,220.13 | Mugs, prints, magnets | |
- | - | $2,362 for pins | |
$6,397.60 | - | Pens | |
$90,000.00 | $90,000.00 | $4,000 on golf balls, $1,700 on flash drives, $13,000 on lip balm ($88,781 in '08, $60345 in '09, $44,846 in '10) | |
* | * | $285 to get the details | |
* | * | $2,710 to get the details | |
$322,745.95 | $401,101.81 | Various | |
$500,000 | $500,000 | Estimate $500k-$650k annually | |
$8,371.41 | $9,496.56 | Various | |
$3,097.51 | $4,163.66 | Lunch bags, mugs, flash drives | |
$97,254.66 | $69,985.43 | BBQ fork thermometers, USB sticks, lip balm, yoga pants, bobble heads | |
$5,682.97 | $9,538.74 | Various | |
* | * | Not separated out | |
$3,243.48 | $8,761.34 | Briefcases for board members, pedometers, toques | |
TOTAL | $1,303,737.04 | $1,458,541.02 |
“Given the province’s $622 million deficit this year, we’re not talking about a lot of money, but it’s an area where some savings could be found,” added Craig.
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