Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Don't get around much anymore


Has the CFIA staff been grounded?

Do Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and his staff travel cheap - real cheap? 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a big deal of implementing a new Treasury Board policy requiring disclosure of travel expenses and hospitality.

So you can check it out now on the website for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Would you believe that it has only spent $17,167 this fiscal year, which ends March 31? The agency says the entire staff of thousands has spent only $16,673 for travel , $222 is for hospitality and $272 for conference fees.

And it says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and his staff have spent nothing on international travel and hospitality.  I guess food safety and agriculture-industry compliance with standards aren't an international priority for Ritz.