In All Fairness Jack And Olivia Didn't Do Anything Wrong...

...and they should be given credit and lauded for their expertise at milking the system and there were examples as far back as when they were Toronto City councilors and living in "subsidized" housing.

Lorne Gunter: Duke Layton and Duchess Chow at least owe us transparency

Chris Wattie / Reuters

After the furor this spring over their expenses, MPs late last month quietly released a few broad particulars about what they spent last year to run their offices and travel back and forth from their constituencies to Ottawa. In the 2009 budget year, 304 MPs received nearly $143-million for staff salaries, travel, meals, accommodation in Ottawa, constituency office rent and expenses, flyers, hospitality and advertising. That’s an average of $469,000 per member of Parliament.

Sure, it’s a lot, but the average U.S. Congressman spends nearly twice that amount — and there are 435 of them. And remember, we are talking about hiring staff back home, renting an office, leasing computers and copiers, flying to and from the home riding to Ottawa several times a year and renting a place to live while in the nation’s capital. This money is not going directly or even mostly into our MPs’ pocket. Read More »