Minister in hiding a cost burden to taxpayers

Early on in the David Emerson saga it was reported that Emerson – then deep in hiding – was costing Canadian taxpayers thousands of dollars by requiring Ottawa bureaucrats fly to Vancouver to brief him, so the furtive federal minister could remain out of reach of the press and an angry public.

It is this idea, of the bureaucrats coming to him rather than him going to Ottawa that has raised the ire of the Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation and its B.C. Director Sara Macintyre. “I think David Emerson, whatever ability he brought to that ministry has certainly been diminished by his poor political judgment,” said Macintyre.

In a Vancouver Sun report today journalist Derrick Penner provides an update to the story. What’s known so far – there are more financial records to come – costs for four of eight officials that travelled to see the embattled Emerson totaled $13,922.95.

Emerson makes the unbelievable claim that it was best to fly eight people out to see him, rather than for him to fly back to Ottawa to see them.

Speaking to reporters Friday following a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, Emerson said travel by senior staff members was worth the expense. He said staff in his new department wanted to brief him on important files in the first weeks after he was named to the portfolio, but he had commitments to meet in his riding, which included meeting with stakeholders in the Olympics and parties involved in the Pacific Gateway strategy.

“In his riding”? Does that mean he stopped off at a Starbucks somewhere? The ellusive Emerson keeps forgetting that ‘his riding’ is not the mythical riding of the BC Business Community.

Lets hear Mr. Emerson tell us exactly what he did for his riding in the month of February, other than usurp the votes of 46,168 people. Here’s what we know he did not do in February:

• Emerson didn’t live up to his January 23rd election-eve promise to be a strong voice in opposition and represent Vancouver-Kingsway.
• Emerson didn’t live up to many of his pre-election promises as a Liberal candidate and cabinet minister, since as a Conservative cabinet minister he must vote against many of the plans, programs and policies he originally sold himself on.
• Emerson didn’t return calls, emails, requests for meetings from legitimate organizations in the riding who sought his attention on riding-specific matters.
• Emerson didn’t return calls, emails, request for meetings from legitimate stakeholders in his riding, namely his constituents.
• Emerson didn’t step foot in his constituency office once, a fact confirmed by his constituency office staff.

Emerson put himself completely out of reach of his riding – the real stakeholders he should be concerned about – yet we are to believe that he was serving us well during that time. To add insult to injury, its costing all Canadians more for the questionable privilege of having Mr. Emerson ‘serve’ us.