Red-faced Canadian politician returns kids' money (Same old political corruption)

Reuters ^ | Fri Jun 2, 2006 10:07am ET | By David Ljunggren

[sully777]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Some children in Canada are so well-off and so keen on current affairs that they donate thousands of dollars to politicians -- at least, that's what one contender for the leadership of the opposition Liberal Party seems to believe.

Former Immigration Minister Joe Volpe hit the spotlight this week after it emerged that a pair of 11-year-old twins and their 14-year-old brother had each donated C$5,400 ($4,900) to his leadership campaign.

The parents of the children -- who also donated C$5,400 to Volpe's campaign -- are related to the chairman of generic drug maker Apotex Inc. In total, five former and current executives of the firm and 15 of their family members handed over C$108,000.

Thursday, Volpe ordered that five donations from people under 18 be given back.

"All the donations were in complete compliance with the law but the perception was not good and that's why they were returned," said Volpe spokesman Corey Hobbs.

The opposition New Democrats are demanding a probe to determine whether Volpe was trying to circumvent the Elections Act, which says companies cannot donate to leadership campaigns and limits individual contributions to C$5,400.

The Liberals lost power in the January 23 election amid allegations they presided over a kick-back scheme to illegally fund their national election campaigns in Quebec.

"The Liberal Party is like an egg-sucking dog ... they dig under the fence to get at that money and they just can't be cured. With an egg-sucking dog, all you can do is put them down," said New Democrat legislator Pat Martin.

The news that Volpe had taken money from such young donors made him the target of much mockery.

"Apparently all across the land, teenagers with a few hundred grand to burn are asking themselves: 'Do I buy a new sports car or support a long-shot for the Liberal leadership? Ferrari or Volpe?'" wrote Ottawa Sun columnist Greg Weston.

Although there is no lower age limit for making donations, handing over money on behalf of someone else is prohibited.

Last October, when the Liberals were in power, Volpe was embarrassed when it transpired he spent C$138 on pizza for two at an Italian restaurant and charged it to his expenses.

[sully777]

Pictured is Joe (aka "The Don") Volpe who once slandered two Conservative MPs as members of the KKK.


[Excerpt from article] "...The Liberals lost power in the January 23 election amid allegations they presided over a kick-back scheme to illegally fund their national election campaigns in Quebec..."

[TheWasteLand]

Ladies and gentlemen, the Liberal Party of Canada.

A class act.

[MAexile]

An 14 y.o. and 11 y.o donated $4900? To a politician?

Didn't Algore pull something like this at a Buddhist temple?

[goldstategop]

And Volpe improperly charged the taxpayers for a restaurant tab. Cheap Liberal... but expensive with other people's money.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[ElkGroveDan]

Volpe was embarrassed when it transpired he spent C$138 on pizza for two

$138?!? Did he order that pizza with double caviar and extra cheese?

[sully777]

Joe Volpe/Gov't Corruption ping

[sully777]

To be honest, out here in Oklahoma I'd pay good money for a really good Sicilian-style pizza from Three Brothers Seaside Heights, NJ (if they're still in business)

[Beagle8U]

"In total, five former and current executives of the firm and 15 of their family members handed over C$108,000."

What would that be in American dollars?...about $1.97 ?/sarc. (joking)

[sully777]

"In total, five former and current executives of the firm and 15 of their family members handed over C$108,000."

What would that be in American dollars?...about $1.97 ?/sarc. (joking)

---

Actually, a few months back, it would have converted to about $78,000 but as of today it converts to $98,097. Dollar has sunk and that's no joke.

[Beagle8U]

I used to travel to Canada on business often in the late 90's. Sometimes you would make money on the exchange rates in only a one day stay. It varied alot back then from day to day.

[sully777]

WTH do you do with all these damn looneys and Canadian quarters? That pretty much sums up the various trips to Canada. Still good times.

[razorback-bert]

Escort delivery costs.

[Beagle8U]

"WTH do you do with all these damn looneys and Canadian quarters? That pretty much sums up the various trips to Canada. Still good times."

You forgot the "toonies", Canada's $2 coin.

Lol...They do tend to use lots of coins, when you buy something with paper cash, you get about 2# of change back.

I always exchanged them back at the border, along with the cash.

[goldstategop]

That's the Canadian dollar. The equivalent is $125.00 in USD. Still expensive for pizza. I spent $4.00 for mine. Go figure.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[goldstategop]

U.S dollars are good in Canada. Establishments will happily accept them as payment for goods and services. The Canadian currrency once carried so little purchasing power it made sense for American visitors to pay with good old fashioned greenbacks. And in Canada, the first thing one finds out is every thing costs more than it does south of the 48th parallel for a very good reason - in Canada you pay a ton of taxes on everything.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[Beagle8U]

"U.S dollars are good in Canada. Establishments will happily accept them as payment for goods and services. The Canadian currrency once carried so little purchasing power it made sense for American visitors to pay with good old fashioned greenbacks. And in Canada, the first thing one finds out is every thing costs more than it does south of the 48th parallel for a very good reason - in Canada you pay a ton of taxes on everything."

I found that it was much wiser to exchange cash at the border. Sure, they accept American $, but you throw away aprox. 20%.

Not everything is more in Canada. I rented a 2 bedroom cabin right on Rice Lake in Ontario for a week. Fully furnished with everything but the food. It even had a gas grill out on the deck. Boat,motor, and gas included.

With the exchange rate the total cost, including taxes, was $218 American! That was in 1999, still damn cheap back then.