Bompf Bompf Baby!

We’ve all heard about Maher Arar correct? We know of how he was deported from Canada on suspicion of terrorist connections, and was tortured in his home country of Syria in 2002. We are also aware of how his lawsuit toward the government claimed $400 million in damages, which was then lowered to $37 million. Well, today Prime Minister Harper is going to announce the final settlement amount for Arar, which is $10 million, and an additional $2 million for legal bills.

Who’s covering that cost? The Canadian taxpayers. Can you believe it? The government completely screws up, and Canadian citizens pick up the tab. Not exactly a small tab either. Not to mention, its the Canadians that pay for the “services” provided by the government that made the mistake of linking Arar with terrorists. It is time for the Canadian government to get its act together, and stop shrugging these things off, at the expense of the people of Canada.

Completely Ridiculous.

Info from the Ottawa Sun - Today in Toronto, there is set to be the final vote on the 25% MPP pay raise. Yesterdays vote passed 72-8. Only members of the NDP voted against this insane hike in pay.

Now I’m just getting into this kind of stuff, so keep that in mind as you read this, and I’m also interested in what other people have to say. However, it seems odd to me that the people benifiting from the raise, are the people that have the only say in whether it happens or not. Especially, since their sallaries are payed by the taxpayers of Ontario. So, would it not seem fair, for the people paying the MPP’s to have the say in how much they deserve for what they do in Provincial Parliament?

If this vote passes, under Bill 173, the base salary for an MPP would go up $22,004 to $110,775 anually - thats about 75% of a federal MP’s salary. The provincial premier’s pay will be $198,620. Acording to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the cost of this raise could be close to three million dollars. I wonder where that’s going to come from…