Taxpayers Federation calls on NDP government to repeal Order in Council for party fund increase

WINNIPEG: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the NDP government to repeal an Order in Council that increases the expense allowance for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

According to the Order in Council, an adjustment has been recommended for receptions, servers, caterers cleaners and other staff and increases the budget by 11 percent from $37,000 to $41,000. "Manitoba's Lieutenant Governor appears to be ripping out a page from the Governor General's playbook for lavish spending on parties for an elite few," stated Manitoba Director Adrienne Batra. "At a time when Manitobans are waiting for surgeries, gas taxes are sky high and disposable incomes are low, it is ridiculous that the Queen's representative in Manitoba would be making a request to increase his party budget."

The Order in Council also makes changes to the status of the Lieutenant Governor's live-in housekeeper, who will now be categorized as a civil servant for collective bargaining purposes. This will double her salary to nearly $30,000 and there is an additional $575 allowance for a relief housekeeper. "With taxpayers surrounded by so much government waste, one has to wonder what benefits the average Manitoban, who will likely never step foot in Government House, receives from all of this frivolous spending," added Batra.

The 2005/06 budget papers did not reflect the increase to the Lieutenant Governor's reception allowance, it was only revealed through recently released cabinet documents. "Even though the NDP government hid this increase from the public, they still have the opportunity to save face with the public and repeal this increase immediately," concluded Batra.