Feds organize new, annual afternoon of games for bureaucrats in Winnipeg

New half-day event includes games with rubber bands, crumpled paper and chopsticks, prizes and a "free" lunch

WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) encouraged new Federal Treasury Board Minister Tony Clement today to start the waste cutting by scrapping a new federal initiative – the “Bureaucrat Olympics.”

Known officially as the “Tri-Level Challenge,” the inaugural games took place today at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, from 11:45-3:45, included a “free” lunch for the first 350 bureaucrats, games, prizes and other “surprises.” All three levels of government were invited to attend.

The games featured; shooting rubber bands into a garbage can 12 feet away, juggling crumpled up pieces of paper, dropping computer disks onto coffee cups, playing with chopsticks and some kind of walking game.

“If bureaucrats played a half-hour team building game that tied in to an overall training day, it’s doubtful most taxpayers would have a problem with it,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “But dragging government employees away from their work to attend four hours of games at the convention centre, feeding them and handing out prizes? That’s going overboard.”

The CTF noted the federal government is currently running a $32 billion deficit, the province of Manitoba is running a $510 million deficit and the City of Winnipeg has said it has a $7 billion infrastructure deficit. This year the Manitoba government will receive $1.9 billion in equalization payments from provinces that did not appear to hold similar events.

“How did a brand new activity like this even get approved?” asked Craig. “The good news is Minister Clement won’t have to look far to find places to start cutting.”

Ironically, a year ago to the day, former Treasury Board Minister Stockwell Day announced an incentive plan to scrap this type of waste.

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For more information, please contact:

Colin Craig, Prairie Director @ 204-227-5561 (cell)