Belinda at the till

CFP ^ | May 30, 2005 | Judi McLeod

[MikeEdwards]

With the mainline media mesmerized by Conservative MP Belinda Stronach’s recent defection to the Liberal Party of Canada, lost from the limelight was why the Liberals would put a rookie in charge of the government till.

In the power base of Liberal rule, the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), which Stronach now oversees, is the government till.

"The Expenditure and Management Strategies Sector (EAMS) has a lead responsibility within Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) for its role in the government’s expenditure and management system. In playing this role, the Sector acts as the primary point of liaison with the Privy Council (PCO) and finance matters related to the fiscal framework, pressure management, and decisions to make allocations from earmarked and other reserves. This role is played throughout the year but takes on a particular focus in Budget (or similar development.) The lead responsibility for dealing with Finance on the salary and benefit (compensation) of expenditure management has recently shifted to (the) Human Resources Management Office (HRMO)," states a Treasury Board of Canada website.

Reduced by Canadian voters to minority status in the June 2004 general election and caught up in scandal after election, The Liberals learned at least one lesson from the Gomery multi-million dollar Adscam inquiry. It is a lesson that shows them how to bypass eagle eyed Auditor General Sheila Fraser, who unearthed the Adscam scandal in the first place, and the long-suffering Canadian taxpayer. The Liberals no longer pay out under-the-table kickbacks with traceable cash stuffed into Crown Corporation envelopes. . . . .

[Ann Archy]

Isn't Belinda a Clinton girlfriend?