I found an interesting story this morning by Katie O'Mally that seems to show an distinct link between top Conservatives and top NDPers and a falling out with a Liberal party. Now this type of back room negotiations are always taking place, I find when it takes place at the level we see here, that seems odd to me. Thomas Mulclair is I believe the deputy leader and the fact that the Conservatives were trying to recruit him, that just backs up my assumptions that the two parties are far too closely linked to be effective as any type of opposition.
Strategic Leak Watch: About that whole 'Mulcair considered joining the Tories' meme ...
July 29, 2011 11:27 AM | Read 31 comments31
By Kady O'Malley
For a few minutes yesterday morning, it seemed that incoming interim opposition leader Nycole Turmel might find herself facing a political firestorm before the ink on her temporary installation papers had even had the chance to dry, courtesy of an incendiary tweet from CTV bureau chief Robert Fife that appeared just as the NDP federal council was gathering in a downtown Ottawa hotel to make her appointment official.
Here's how it all went down:
By kady o'malley, 21 hours ago
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Tories claim Deputy NDP Thomas Muclair negotiated to join Harper PMO before joining NDP. #cdnpoli
RobertFifeJuly 28, 2011 at 7:42
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@YaroslavB Sources say Muclair negotiated to work for Harper minister and than run for Tories. #cdnpoli
RobertFifeJuly 28, 2011 at 8:16
Unfortunately for reporters desperate for a new angle on what had been, thus far, a remarkably orderly, if unexpected, interim leadership selection process, NDP communications staffers were quick to point out that the claim that Mulcair had entertained offers from other parties before signing on with Team Orange was not, strictly -- or even loosely -- speaking, 'news' in any meaningful sense of the word.
Not only had those discussions had taken place nearly five years earlier -- in April 2007, when Mulcair was a political free agent following his falling out with the provincial Liberals -- but the fact that the NDP managed to win him over despite what must have seemed a tempting counteroffer from the governing Conservatives -- who, it bears noting, had a far stronger presence in Quebec at the time -- was widely understood -- and, in fact, reported -- back when it all went down.
From the Montreal Gazette (04/20/2007):
While Mulcair had been actively courted behind the scenes by both the NDP and the Conservatives, sources close to him said he chose the NDP because he felt it is best positioned to make a difference when it comes to the environment.
Those sources said the Tories were interested in the ex-minister because they believed he could help improve their image on the environment, but he turned them down once he realized they were more interested in having him toe their line than in adopting his positions.
NDP staffers weren't the only ones left scratching their heads.
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Are the Tories really leaking that they failed to nab Mulcair, before the party he went to won most of the seats in Quebec?
InklessPWJuly 28, 2011 at 9:58
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Pretty sure that Mulcair 'news' isnt. Profile or star candidates almost always shop around to or are recruited by all of the parties.
aligoldingJuly 28, 2011 at 11:06
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You know, I remember when Mulcair made the jump to federal politics. There was a betting pool over which party would land him.
kadyJuly 28, 2011 at 10:10
In any case, when the now formally, if temporarily, anointed interim leader appeared before the cameras following the federal council meeting, she was dutifully quizzed on the claim, to which she responded by pointing out that Mulcair had, in fact, decided to join the NDP.
Federal director Brian Topp, meanwhile, told reporters that he took it as a compliment, suggesting that the Conservatives wouldn't go on the attack unless they were worried.
So why did the Conservatives -- or, to be scrupulously exact, an unknown number of unnamed party operatives -- decide to dredge up the ghosts of failed star candidate recruitment efforts past? Was it simply an attempt to stir up internal dissent and suspicion with a strategy that, to be fair, has rarely failed them in the past when deployed against the Liberals? Or did someone not bother with a cursory Google to make sure that the 'news' they were attempting to plant was, in fact, new?
Given the campaign that the party waged against the two previous leaders of the opposition, it's likely worth keeping an eye on the Little Shop of Tories over the summer, if only to see whether they plan on taking the same approach to the NDP.
Kelowna B.C.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
I made this comment on Steve V's blog post this morning regarding the living conditions on native reserves and how the Liberals need to champion this a major issue to wrap themselves around.
Your exactly right Steve, the Liberals need to champion themselves around a just and honourable causes, and the plight of our first nations and the alarming living conditions in which they endure is an important objective indeed. However, I strongly feel that the Liberals NEED to have a complete arsenal of just and honourable causes including major issues such as; healthcare, environment, education, equality, poverty, human rights, foreign policies, global diplomacy, democratic transparency, accountability. I’m sure I’ve missed a few important issues as well but to reiterate my point the Liberals should be working as a team to champion these issues and work towards taking steps needed to correct or improve on these plights. I believe the Liberals are on the right track with this approach but more needs to be done, for example; Ralph Goodale and his work with agriculture and rural concerns, Bob Rae and his exemplary work on foreign policy and human rights, John McCallum financial and economic expertise, Stephen Dion and tireless work with environment issues and possible solutions (I think the Green Shift was a policy ahead of its time and many of the items in that plan should be pursued), Martha Hall Finlay and her stellar work on womens rights (I’m sure she will continue even though she is no longer a sitting member of parliament and I hope we see her run again in the next election as she has so much to offer), anyways the list goes on with a good many representatives. The Liberals should be more vocal and more proactive on these plights, it’s one thing to have these as policies but to champion these issues and gather other people towards your particular plight is essential, social media is the perfect tool for this endeavour. We should see more rallies, protest and campaigns for the many people effected by this inactive government and I would love to see more Liberal representatives in the thick of things. The Liberals should be getting behind the people and their causes and forget the fact some other Canadians might be annoyed or angered by their actions, as long as the campaigns are just and honourable there will be a good many Canadians who will applaud their actions.
As for the specifics of your post Steve, Sheila Frasers scathing report on the conditions our first nations face is definitely a perfect example of how the Liberals can wrap themselves in a just and moral cause, and yes many red neck types will definitely be annoyed by their efforts. I think I’ve heard that statement by Doyen many of times “ what can be done for the first nation anyways” or “they don’t want our help they just want our money” and yes thwap that is the sentiment of many Canadians. What many Canadians do not know is that our efforts and assistance has had numerous positive successes. I am sure there are many more reserves that have a normal standard of living and that may only have a minimal percentage of the population living in deplorable conditions, and we have that in our own communities as well. The Osoyoos Indian band is one of the first bands to see year after year profits through their approach of treating the band as a business and constantly expanding the business. Chief Clarence Louis has been traveling the country teaching other bands to use this extremely productive approach to better their communities. I have worked with various native band offices for many years and I currently work for a company who operates on a native reserve, more than forty percent of my fellow workers are native and I have many good friends who are native. I would like to say that they are no different than you or I, period! Yes they have poverty and substance abuse issues but so does the rest of this country, have you ever seen the Vancouver east end, and those conditions exist in every major city in Canada. What is needed is simple EDUCATION and EMPOYMENT period!
Sorry for the long winded comment Steve, I guess you hit one of those hot button issues I’m so passionate about, and the Kelowna Accord was one of them.
Your exactly right Steve, the Liberals need to champion themselves around a just and honourable causes, and the plight of our first nations and the alarming living conditions in which they endure is an important objective indeed. However, I strongly feel that the Liberals NEED to have a complete arsenal of just and honourable causes including major issues such as; healthcare, environment, education, equality, poverty, human rights, foreign policies, global diplomacy, democratic transparency, accountability. I’m sure I’ve missed a few important issues as well but to reiterate my point the Liberals should be working as a team to champion these issues and work towards taking steps needed to correct or improve on these plights. I believe the Liberals are on the right track with this approach but more needs to be done, for example; Ralph Goodale and his work with agriculture and rural concerns, Bob Rae and his exemplary work on foreign policy and human rights, John McCallum financial and economic expertise, Stephen Dion and tireless work with environment issues and possible solutions (I think the Green Shift was a policy ahead of its time and many of the items in that plan should be pursued), Martha Hall Finlay and her stellar work on womens rights (I’m sure she will continue even though she is no longer a sitting member of parliament and I hope we see her run again in the next election as she has so much to offer), anyways the list goes on with a good many representatives. The Liberals should be more vocal and more proactive on these plights, it’s one thing to have these as policies but to champion these issues and gather other people towards your particular plight is essential, social media is the perfect tool for this endeavour. We should see more rallies, protest and campaigns for the many people effected by this inactive government and I would love to see more Liberal representatives in the thick of things. The Liberals should be getting behind the people and their causes and forget the fact some other Canadians might be annoyed or angered by their actions, as long as the campaigns are just and honourable there will be a good many Canadians who will applaud their actions.
As for the specifics of your post Steve, Sheila Frasers scathing report on the conditions our first nations face is definitely a perfect example of how the Liberals can wrap themselves in a just and moral cause, and yes many red neck types will definitely be annoyed by their efforts. I think I’ve heard that statement by Doyen many of times “ what can be done for the first nation anyways” or “they don’t want our help they just want our money” and yes thwap that is the sentiment of many Canadians. What many Canadians do not know is that our efforts and assistance has had numerous positive successes. I am sure there are many more reserves that have a normal standard of living and that may only have a minimal percentage of the population living in deplorable conditions, and we have that in our own communities as well. The Osoyoos Indian band is one of the first bands to see year after year profits through their approach of treating the band as a business and constantly expanding the business. Chief Clarence Louis has been traveling the country teaching other bands to use this extremely productive approach to better their communities. I have worked with various native band offices for many years and I currently work for a company who operates on a native reserve, more than forty percent of my fellow workers are native and I have many good friends who are native. I would like to say that they are no different than you or I, period! Yes they have poverty and substance abuse issues but so does the rest of this country, have you ever seen the Vancouver east end, and those conditions exist in every major city in Canada. What is needed is simple EDUCATION and EMPOYMENT period!
Sorry for the long winded comment Steve, I guess you hit one of those hot button issues I’m so passionate about, and the Kelowna Accord was one of them.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Civil disobedience?
This post was written by Emily Dee on "Pushed Left and Loving it", I thought it was a good read;
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Ned Franks is Dead Wrong About Brigette DePape
I was busy yesterday and didn't get to say as much as I would have liked about Brigette DePape. Then I read Ned Franks column in the Star this morning, and couldn't possibly find enough words to tell him why he is dead wrong about this young woman.
Professor Franks is a constitutional expert but apparently not much of an expert on democracy.
Because if he believes that what took place on May 2, was democracy in action, then he clearly needs to read a few books on the subject.
This was the most undemocratic election in our history. Fifty-seven Conservative MPs were no shows, and almost as many NDP, the same.
Our prime minister limited questions to five, and even then only answered the ones he wanted to answer. Fences were put up and one person arrested simply for throwing a teddy bear over the barricades. Another because she had a picture of herself with Michael Ignatieff on Facebook.
If you weren't on a list you didn't get in. Period. In Kingston, the police drew an imaginary line for us not to cross, and when one one man fell over it, tripping on the curb, he was thrown against a police car and hauled away.
It was defined by dirty tricks, bogus phone calls, and Gestapo like control.
And with less than 40% of the popular vote (25% of eligible voters), Stephen Harper has almost 100% control of our country. This is democracy?
This young woman, and others like her, are smart enough to see that our system is badly broken.
And if we expect her to treat our institutions with respect, our current government is not leading by example. A 200 page manual instructing their MPs on how to disrupt Parliamentary committees.
Dean Del Mastro conducts himself like an animal, Pierre Polievre has had to have his mike shut off he was so obnoxious, and Peter Braid has attacked witnesses so voraciously, they have trembled with fear.
This government was found in contempt of Parliament, and yet they were able to run for re-election.
Bev Oda doctored a contract after it was signed and yet she was able to run for re-election.
Young people are not going to sit by for the next four to five years, as Canada continues its race to the bottom.
Miss DePape may not have taken her rightful place on the bus, but hopefully, she has earned her place in history.
We need to encourage our youth to get involved, not vilify them when they do, in the only way they can. Through civil disobedience.
I applaud her and look forward to more of the same, from Canadians of all ages.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Ned Franks is Dead Wrong About Brigette DePape
I was busy yesterday and didn't get to say as much as I would have liked about Brigette DePape. Then I read Ned Franks column in the Star this morning, and couldn't possibly find enough words to tell him why he is dead wrong about this young woman.
Professor Franks is a constitutional expert but apparently not much of an expert on democracy.
Because if he believes that what took place on May 2, was democracy in action, then he clearly needs to read a few books on the subject.
This was the most undemocratic election in our history. Fifty-seven Conservative MPs were no shows, and almost as many NDP, the same.
Our prime minister limited questions to five, and even then only answered the ones he wanted to answer. Fences were put up and one person arrested simply for throwing a teddy bear over the barricades. Another because she had a picture of herself with Michael Ignatieff on Facebook.
If you weren't on a list you didn't get in. Period. In Kingston, the police drew an imaginary line for us not to cross, and when one one man fell over it, tripping on the curb, he was thrown against a police car and hauled away.
It was defined by dirty tricks, bogus phone calls, and Gestapo like control.
And with less than 40% of the popular vote (25% of eligible voters), Stephen Harper has almost 100% control of our country. This is democracy?
This young woman, and others like her, are smart enough to see that our system is badly broken.
And if we expect her to treat our institutions with respect, our current government is not leading by example. A 200 page manual instructing their MPs on how to disrupt Parliamentary committees.
Dean Del Mastro conducts himself like an animal, Pierre Polievre has had to have his mike shut off he was so obnoxious, and Peter Braid has attacked witnesses so voraciously, they have trembled with fear.
This government was found in contempt of Parliament, and yet they were able to run for re-election.
Bev Oda doctored a contract after it was signed and yet she was able to run for re-election.
Young people are not going to sit by for the next four to five years, as Canada continues its race to the bottom.
Miss DePape may not have taken her rightful place on the bus, but hopefully, she has earned her place in history.
We need to encourage our youth to get involved, not vilify them when they do, in the only way they can. Through civil disobedience.
I applaud her and look forward to more of the same, from Canadians of all ages.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Why Canadians Should Worry!
This is what makes me mad about the direction the Canadian Government is going and how our reputation in the world is being spoiled.
I came accross this post this morning and it hits the nail on the head, Canadian oil companies and minning companies are distroying the environmnet, the communities, and people who try to stand up against them, throughout the world and it's making Canada look like the principle problem in our attempt to conbat global warming. Anyways here's the post;
Canadian Mining Companies Continue to Make Headlines
In 2009, Liberal MP John McKay introduced a private members bill, Bill C-300, in an attempt to hold Canadian mining companies, operating abroad, to account for human rights abuses.
Almost immediately he began receiving threats, and several other MPs spoke of similar threats to their careers by the mining lobby. The bill was defeated 135 to 140, with 13 Liberal, 5 Bloc and 4 NDP absent from the vote.
Brent Popplewell wrote a piece for the Toronto Star on the abuses, saying that:
The word "Canada" is so reviled in some places that travelling Canadians mask their citizenship by wearing American flags on their caps and backpacks.
Recently a Mining Justice Conference was held in Vancouver.
Indigenous representatives from Latin America were in Vancouver the week of May 16 speaking out on Canadian mining companies and the negative impacts operations are having on local communities.
Human rights violations, environmental degradation, bribery, intimidation and disregard for local villages and indigenous populations are alleged to have occurred at the hands of publicly shared operations with home bases in Vancouver.
From protests in Guatemala over the abuse in Canada of temporary foreign workers to Tibetans fighting against the exploitation of their mineral rights, we can't really say that Canada has lost its international notoriety.
Around the world we are becoming reviled. I think I'd rather they didn't know who we were.
Posted by Emily Dee (Pushed to the Left and loving it)
I came accross this post this morning and it hits the nail on the head, Canadian oil companies and minning companies are distroying the environmnet, the communities, and people who try to stand up against them, throughout the world and it's making Canada look like the principle problem in our attempt to conbat global warming. Anyways here's the post;
Canadian Mining Companies Continue to Make Headlines
In 2009, Liberal MP John McKay introduced a private members bill, Bill C-300, in an attempt to hold Canadian mining companies, operating abroad, to account for human rights abuses.
Almost immediately he began receiving threats, and several other MPs spoke of similar threats to their careers by the mining lobby. The bill was defeated 135 to 140, with 13 Liberal, 5 Bloc and 4 NDP absent from the vote.
Brent Popplewell wrote a piece for the Toronto Star on the abuses, saying that:
The word "Canada" is so reviled in some places that travelling Canadians mask their citizenship by wearing American flags on their caps and backpacks.
Recently a Mining Justice Conference was held in Vancouver.
Indigenous representatives from Latin America were in Vancouver the week of May 16 speaking out on Canadian mining companies and the negative impacts operations are having on local communities.
Human rights violations, environmental degradation, bribery, intimidation and disregard for local villages and indigenous populations are alleged to have occurred at the hands of publicly shared operations with home bases in Vancouver.
From protests in Guatemala over the abuse in Canada of temporary foreign workers to Tibetans fighting against the exploitation of their mineral rights, we can't really say that Canada has lost its international notoriety.
Around the world we are becoming reviled. I think I'd rather they didn't know who we were.
Posted by Emily Dee (Pushed to the Left and loving it)
Monday, May 23, 2011
The New Cabinet.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet pose for a group photo following a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Wednesday May 18, 2011. Left to Right, top row: Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Edward Fast , Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, Peter Penashue, Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), Gordon OÕConnor, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), Lynne Yelich , Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance), Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). Middle Row( left to right): John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), James Moore, Minister Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Denis Lebel , Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, Peter Kent, Minister of Environment, Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, Alice Wong , Minister of State (Seniors), Gail Shea , Minister of National Revenue. Front Row(left to right): Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate, Peter MacKay, Minister of Defence, Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General David Johnston, Rona Ambrose , Minister Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Status of Women, Diane Finley , Human Resources and Skills Development, Bev Oda, Minister of International Co-operation, John Baird , Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport),THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Cabinet cost soars as Tories look to trim fat
This is a good article I came across this morning;
OTTAWA - Tightening a belt is tricky when you have to wrap it around 39 people.
Stephen Harper's biggest cabinet ever will have to do some sucking in of its collective gut if the Conservatives are serious about trimming the fat.
The annual salary bill for all the ministers and junior ministers appointed last week is about $9 million — the largest on record.
That's at a time when the Conservatives are looking to slash $4 billion from the bureaucracy and billions more in the coming years to balance the books.
The prime minister's team rivals the largest cabinets of Brian Mulroney and Paul Martin.
According to 2011 figures on Parliament's website, an ordinary MP draws a base salary of $157,731 per year. As prime minister, Harper gets double that plus a car allowance.
Still, Harper's $317,574 salary to run the country is modest compared with what bank presidents and top executives in the private sector make.
Ministers get $75,516 atop their MP base salary, plus a car allowance. Ministers of state get an extra $56,637, but no car allowance.
Marjory LeBreton gets $132,300 for being a senator and another $75,500 for her role as leader of the government in the Senate.
So with one prime minister, 25 ministers, 11 ministers of state, and government senate and house leaders, it all works out to roughly $9 million in salaries and perks.
And don't forget all those staffers.
The Conservatives quietly approved increases in the maximum salaries political staff are entitled to receive.
The changes went into effect April 1, even though Harper has announced budget cuts to eliminate the federal deficit one year ahead of schedule, in 2014-15.
The prime minister said that feat would be achieved "by controlling spending and cutting waste."
Whether a staffer actually receives the maximum allowable salary is left up to the discretion of each minister, who must still keep within an overall office budget.
But ministers will have a little more money to play with since the government has decreed that their offices should no longer have to foot the bill for international travel by ministers, their staff and parliamentary secretaries. Those costs will now be absorbed by government departments instead.
The Prime Minister's Office says cabinet salaries are largely covered by MPs' regular wages.
"Almost two thirds of your cost is actually their salaries as MPs, which would have to be paid whether or not they're in cabinet," spokesman Andrew MacDougall said in an email.
Harper has also defended his beefed-up bench.
"I think it's important to know when you're talking about austerity, that this government has reduced ministerial budgets significantly," he said after his cabinet was sworn in at Rideau Hall.
"So the question here is not cost. The question is making sure that we have a ministry that is broad, representative of the country and tries to use people's talents to the maximum. ...
"I think it would be a mistake to try and have a smaller cabinet that would make less use of people."
Harper's cabinet ranks in size with Mulroney and Martin's 39-member teams.
When Mulroney appointed his first Progressive Conservative cabinet in 1984, a minister earned $95,200. There was also a tax-free expense allowance of $17,600, which varied depending on the MP's riding.
Mulroney made $115,100, plus the tax-free expense allowance, when he took office.
At the time of Martin's first Liberal cabinet in late 2003, a minister's salary with car allowance had risen to $208,138. The more junior secretary of state job earned $189,312.
Martin made $280,522 at the time.
Derek Fildebrandt of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says his issue isn't so much with what cabinet ministers make, but with the pensions they go on to collect at age 55.
"We're fine that they're decently compensated," Fildebrandt said.
"They're not outrageously compensated. They're well compensated, but they're not outrageously compensated. But pension-wise, they are outrageously compensated."
The group says that for every $1 an MP puts into their pension plan, taxpayers contribute another $4.
Fildebrandt also questioned defeated MPs' severance packages.
Defeated Conservative cabinet minister Josee Verner wasn't in the House of Commons long enough to get a pension. But like all MPs who have served fewer than six years, she qualifies for a severance equal to half her salary.
Verner's nearly $117,000 golden parachute may ease her jump to the Red Chamber — where she will earn $132,300 a year as one of Harper's three new senators.
Compare that to what a typical Canadian family makes. The median after-tax income of a family of two is $63,900, according to Statistics Canada.
By Steve Rennie, The Canadian Press, thecanadianpress.com, Updated: May 22, 2011
OTTAWA - Tightening a belt is tricky when you have to wrap it around 39 people.
Stephen Harper's biggest cabinet ever will have to do some sucking in of its collective gut if the Conservatives are serious about trimming the fat.
The annual salary bill for all the ministers and junior ministers appointed last week is about $9 million — the largest on record.
That's at a time when the Conservatives are looking to slash $4 billion from the bureaucracy and billions more in the coming years to balance the books.
The prime minister's team rivals the largest cabinets of Brian Mulroney and Paul Martin.
According to 2011 figures on Parliament's website, an ordinary MP draws a base salary of $157,731 per year. As prime minister, Harper gets double that plus a car allowance.
Still, Harper's $317,574 salary to run the country is modest compared with what bank presidents and top executives in the private sector make.
Ministers get $75,516 atop their MP base salary, plus a car allowance. Ministers of state get an extra $56,637, but no car allowance.
Marjory LeBreton gets $132,300 for being a senator and another $75,500 for her role as leader of the government in the Senate.
So with one prime minister, 25 ministers, 11 ministers of state, and government senate and house leaders, it all works out to roughly $9 million in salaries and perks.
And don't forget all those staffers.
The Conservatives quietly approved increases in the maximum salaries political staff are entitled to receive.
The changes went into effect April 1, even though Harper has announced budget cuts to eliminate the federal deficit one year ahead of schedule, in 2014-15.
The prime minister said that feat would be achieved "by controlling spending and cutting waste."
Whether a staffer actually receives the maximum allowable salary is left up to the discretion of each minister, who must still keep within an overall office budget.
But ministers will have a little more money to play with since the government has decreed that their offices should no longer have to foot the bill for international travel by ministers, their staff and parliamentary secretaries. Those costs will now be absorbed by government departments instead.
The Prime Minister's Office says cabinet salaries are largely covered by MPs' regular wages.
"Almost two thirds of your cost is actually their salaries as MPs, which would have to be paid whether or not they're in cabinet," spokesman Andrew MacDougall said in an email.
Harper has also defended his beefed-up bench.
"I think it's important to know when you're talking about austerity, that this government has reduced ministerial budgets significantly," he said after his cabinet was sworn in at Rideau Hall.
"So the question here is not cost. The question is making sure that we have a ministry that is broad, representative of the country and tries to use people's talents to the maximum. ...
"I think it would be a mistake to try and have a smaller cabinet that would make less use of people."
Harper's cabinet ranks in size with Mulroney and Martin's 39-member teams.
When Mulroney appointed his first Progressive Conservative cabinet in 1984, a minister earned $95,200. There was also a tax-free expense allowance of $17,600, which varied depending on the MP's riding.
Mulroney made $115,100, plus the tax-free expense allowance, when he took office.
At the time of Martin's first Liberal cabinet in late 2003, a minister's salary with car allowance had risen to $208,138. The more junior secretary of state job earned $189,312.
Martin made $280,522 at the time.
Derek Fildebrandt of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says his issue isn't so much with what cabinet ministers make, but with the pensions they go on to collect at age 55.
"We're fine that they're decently compensated," Fildebrandt said.
"They're not outrageously compensated. They're well compensated, but they're not outrageously compensated. But pension-wise, they are outrageously compensated."
The group says that for every $1 an MP puts into their pension plan, taxpayers contribute another $4.
Fildebrandt also questioned defeated MPs' severance packages.
Defeated Conservative cabinet minister Josee Verner wasn't in the House of Commons long enough to get a pension. But like all MPs who have served fewer than six years, she qualifies for a severance equal to half her salary.
Verner's nearly $117,000 golden parachute may ease her jump to the Red Chamber — where she will earn $132,300 a year as one of Harper's three new senators.
Compare that to what a typical Canadian family makes. The median after-tax income of a family of two is $63,900, according to Statistics Canada.
By Steve Rennie, The Canadian Press, thecanadianpress.com, Updated: May 22, 2011
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