Add this to the list of Liberal Party corruption and scandal. The list is now so long I’ve given up even keeping track. The whole government from top to bottom, inside and out, is apparently out of control and nothing short of a complete renovation will get Canada back on track, as far as I can tell.
Fishy expenses exposed
Audit shows Fisheries staff billed us with no evidence of work, inflated exchange rates on flight claimsA NEWLY released audit of travel expenses at the federal Fisheries Department has uncovered some horror stories—just as the Liberals try to shake off spending scandals at the Royal Canadian Mint and elsewhere.
The internal review of the department’s $42-million annual bill for travel and hospitality found:
– Some employees attending foreign conferences stayed abroad after meetings ended, claiming expenses without any evidence they were actually doing government business.
– Staff at some meetings claimed meal allowances, even though meals were provided.
– Other employees used exorbitant exchange rates to make claims for foreign travel, even though the rate they actually paid was lower.
– One staff member in a remote posting claimed $6,000 for hotel, meals and incidentals for 27 straight days so he could be with his spouse for the birth of a child. There was no evidence anyone had authorized the expenses in advance.
– One office habitually booked pricey flights, costing an average $5,400 more than the lowest-priced flight available.
The audit, dated Sept. 30, covered two years of spending on travel and hospitality up to March 31 this year.
Investigators also found several cases where travel was not pre-authorized as required, expense claims were missing receipts, and Treasury Board policies were being ignored or subverted.
“The majority of claims in all regions were missing pre-approvals, had incomplete supporting documentation, and had invalid or missing … signatures,” says the report, referring to problems with hospitality claims worth about $1 million each year. “The extent of non-compliance with hospitality policies was high in all regions.”
[…] “The travel program at DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) is well-managed,” said Bill Lumsdon, director of accounting, materiel and administration service.
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